Hello Everyone,

It's been a while since we last wrote because we had other things going on over the weekend. We've now actually left Matang this morning and have had a few teary goodbyes, but they're not over yet. All the volunteers are going out for dinner tonight and we're going our seperate ways tomorrow. We are very sad to leave the animals and our new freinds, but we're also looking forward to new adventures in Vietnam. We are especially sad to be leaving now as a new baby orangutan is arriving at Matang this evening and we shan't get to see him. It's a very tragic story - he's about 1 year old and has been kept as a pet (by a murderer apparently) and he only weighs 2 kg so is obviously very malnourished, but at least he should be well looked after by Keith and Caroline at Matang.

Our last week at Matang was good.It really started to feel like home.Lots more cleaning building, splicing, making up treats and play things for the animals, which really improve their quality of life.We are both now considering a change in our career paths after this.

We were taken to another wildlife centre in Borneo.Very similar conditions, but no one there to make things better, which made us realise how massive the problem is not just here but worldwide.Then to top the day off we went to a crocodile farm where crocs are farmed for meat and leather.The things we are getting to see are really astonishing and we feel so lucky to have this opportunity however disturbing it might be.

On a slightly lighter note we went to a longhouse for the evening.There must be about 30 families living together in a very communal type way.It was probably one of the best nights of our lives.They made us food which we ate on the floor with our hands! There were children everywhere who were so keen to play and be friends with us.We drank lots of the traditional rice wine, danced to traditional music played on traditional instruments and generally had a ball.It was fantastic how all generations of the family live underneath the same roof and look after each other.We wish it was more like this in England.Hopefully the photos will explain it better than we can.

We have managed to do lots of entertaining this week.Cooking 3 course meals on a camping stove for 8 people.Things from lime cheesecake, poached pears with chocolate to Thai curry.Yummy.I think we have impressed our guests with our culinary delights.

Can`t wait till we next write, it will be from Vietnam. We are 2 lucky girls.We fly out tommorow morning via KL.We have been having some problems putting the photos on the blogg so hopefully it will work this time.

Hope all is well with you all, we think of you often but don`t wish we were back home.

All our love Lucynda and Emma.x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x