Hi guys

I'm having problems accessing the site and am sending this through Simon!

Today has been rather hectic. We thought we were going to be in for a quieter day after yesterday but no such luck. Everything was going fairly smoothly (several of the volunteers went into Hua Hin last night and got rather merry, so didn't turn up for work all day). At 2.15 we thought someone was having a bonfire, then realised it was a bush fire right by the sun bear enclosure and about 50 yards from where we were working with the ellies.

Everyone came running and turning on hosepipes. I was carrying buckets of water over the embers of what they had managed to put out, and thankfully had my walking boots on due to the many blisters I've acquired. It was bloody hot and a couple of people wearing flip flops burnt their feet. It took about half an hour to get under control and it was very frightening.

We took the elephants out into the scrubland to tether them for the night and passsed about 20 smaller bush fires on the way. We were really concerned about the ellies, but the mahouts didn't seem at all worried. We got back and reported it and tonight about 10 volunteers went out with rakes and brushes to put them out. I was too late getting myself sorted so missed the pick up truck that took them all out. Hopefully they will all come back safely! The fire at the centre also broke out again whilst we were walking the ellies but hopefully it will be okay now.

The temperature here today has been about 35 degrees and working in this heat is a killer. I can't even say I have a tan because we have to cover ourselves up because of the monks. I'm also on housekeeping duty, and the girl I was supposed to be working with is sick (self-imposed), but the other newbies have been helping me.

Simon, the centre manager has asked for 4 English speaking volunteers to go into the local Thai school on Thursday to teach English to the pupils for the day, and I have volunteered to go. It wll be from 9-3pm, and I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be yet another experience that I wasn't planning on but how wonderful is that??? We're teaching the mahouts some English, but I think they know a lot more than they let on. One says "Bloody Hell" with a Gloucester accent now! (He's also a Man U fan....can't get away from them!).

A couple of the girls and I are going to Cha-am tomorrow evening for the night markets. We're going to eat there too, and I'm hoping to find a better internet cafe to upload some photos. The computers here are a bit antiquated and I don't think they will have the software installed.

That's all the news for now.

Sue