Anne-Marie Anne Marie,

You are evil! A sick and twisted young lady! You almost, almost made me depressed for a second, but hang on I'm in Asia and you're not! Ha ha to you too.

See you soon (too soon), anyway, I love archive boxes! RJW

Richard Richard,

Just read your blog this morning, I bet you could never imagine such culture..

I had to post what I have just heard Alan saying (I checked and he says it is ok to tell you) "When Richard Wells comes back he is going to be sorting out all the abstraction files down here and sending them to archive" ha ha!!!!!!!

Bet you can't wait to come back and be the office junior (!) again...

Anne-Marie

hey guys.

Great read as usual. I was in Thailand and Laos a number of years ago but not for long - it's a great place in terms of food and finances!! with all your tales it's made me want to go back and explore much more - fascinating people and history. Pretty harrowing some of it though by the sounds of it.

Sounds like you are heading home soon? must be weird coming to the end. Are you looking forward to it? or wish you could carry on? guess it will be good to see friends and family and have some home comforts! Do keep in touch when you are back!

We've just done the Abel Tasman trek. Really beautiful. Too many sand flies though... back at work now. Very excited though as our mums arrive on friday.

Take care, enjoy the rest of the trip, safe travels home.

Faye xox

PS. Great photos. I laughed at the one of all the bits of paper for planning the trip. and i thought i was obsessed with lists and planning!! 

The miserable git!  Good job it was only $10.  At least you can sleep easy and don't have his conscience.

I cried when I read your blog.  Must be feeling all emotional, maybe it was just well written.  Pictures to go with it are truly amazing.  Glad you have experienced all sides.  SE Asia looks amazing.  I bet you'll be planning to go back.

Making Sunday tea and planning ahead for our "Christmas" meal.  Really looking forward to us all being together.

Love to you both, take care and see you soon.

XXXXXXXXXMum

I just cant believe i forgot to note in the journal about us getting lied to and ripped off by a mean mean Ozzie... I will just have to fill you in and hopefully it will serve as a warning for anyone going to Phenom Pehn..... 

So, the saga, we were out for a walk in Cambodia's capital city when we were approached by a very flustered Australian, "Do you speak English??" he asked us "Oh, thank God for that...." he said, and then proceeded to tell us a sob story about how he had got his bag stolen by some begging Cambodian children earlier in the day...."they got my wallet, my camera, my bank cards, guide book, everything" he said "I have been to the Australian Embassy and i have to wait for tomorrow to get money wired but i have nothing and i have not eaten since yesterday...have you got a few bucks you could lend me?  Ill repay you tomorrow" Well, i felt dreadfully sorry for him, i was just thinking how easily it could happen to us... and said "Here's $10, really dont worry about paying it back, just dont let it ruin your holiday.' Giving him a big friendly smile we walked off feeling rather good with ourselves....

As we walked away i said to Richard, "you did believe him didnt you?" there was just about 1% of me that was dubious... "öh yes, and just imagine how stuck you would be" ....
Anyway, next day we discovered that the b****** was lying to us...  as walking along the same strip of road we saw him giving the chat to some another poor, unsuspecting British couple.  Anyway, it immediately dawned on me that we had been taken for a ride so i ran up to them to warn our fellow victims...Anyway, the dude, knowing he had been sussed hurried off as i approached. After explaining to the couple our story we ran after the 'waste of space' to tell him exactly what we thought of him.  Richard tactfully gave him the opportunity to redeem himself and simply asked for our money back...hummm..."Oh yes, tomorrow" he said, "the Embassy said i could have money tomorrow"....  this is where i come in, slightly less tactfully.... "Bulls***, youré a liar, i cant believe you dare steal from us and blame the Cambodian kids giving them a bad name...how dare you, when it is them who really truly need the money, how could you"...etc etc...to which he skulked off.  I just hope he was feeling slightly guilty for his actions....tho if he could do it in the first place i guess not. 

Anyway, we learnt our lesson...often its your fellow travellers you have to watch out for, not the locals.....
S xx

Heyhey ! Argh! I want to be in Angkor! So jealous- just didn't get enough time there...

I'm on Ko Tao now- done the PADI which I loved and going to do my advanced with some of the guys here over the next couple of days. How are you getting back to Thailand? Where will you be? It was around the 15th 16th no??

Let me know and we'll see if we can meet up! xx 

Hi Richard and Sarah

 Am loving seeing your updates and fantastic photos, do keep them coming.  After South America I headed back up to Vancouver for a while and am now back in the UK and reality - temp work, looking for a job in psych, etc.  Am loving seeing my UK friends again though and have a couple of small trips planned to look forward to.

 Keep well and safe and enjoy!

Tracey

Hello Richey Poos and Sarah

Really enjoying this wonderful journey of yours - it has gone fast though..

Now that you have been on the cooking course, we can all expect a nice treat when you come back. Ann Marie says we should all go for a currie anyway and I do tend to agree as it has been ages. Also, it will be nice if Sarah can come.

Did you feel that earthquake..they said it was 6.3!

Anyway, take care and keep sending more photos.

Natsx

Richard and Sarah,

 WOW WOW WOW! I haven't checked up on you in a little while and I've just spent the last half hour seeing what you have been up to - you've done loads! And now a Thai cooking school? Madness!!

 Hope you're both loving it and formulating plans for the next trip too! (AFRICA AFRICA!!)

I sold my house last week and I'm gutted that you didn't get to see it in its pristine state after the wreck that it was! Been looking for property at the Bridge but even the wooden shacks I can afford there don't come up for seven generations....

 Oh have a fantastic time!!

 Anne-Marie

Hey, just a quick message to say we are now fully qualified Open Water Scuba Divers!  3 days of theory and 4 dives with loads of nerve-wracking skills and we did it!!!  Whoooo!!!  I had a slight issue with taking my air regulator and mask off 10 meters under......Richard said i was "thinking about it too much"....BUT, your'e flippin' well going to think about it aren't you!! Its really not the most natural thing to do!!  Anyway, i did it confidently in the end.  Scary thing is we are now qualified to go alone....ahhhhh!!  lazy day on the beach today recovering/frying.  Doing a Thai cooking school tomorrow.  Hope you are ok, love Sarah xx

P.S. I am having a party at my parents house on 7th April after a day at our local point to point would be great if you can make it!  Think will may be coming and have invited fi xxx