Country Photographer

Chang Mai

We arrived in Chang Mai yesterday.

Went to the orphangage.....amazing.  heart pulling, and then some.

Today Kate and I went to the international church with Fiona Higgins and her boys.  Was a wonderful time. Had lunch at the Higgins House.  then came back and found a pool, swam, read, and kicked back.

Tonight we all went to the night baazar.  I dont know what to say...the shopping was amazing.  And I think the boys were shopping more than we were.

Emma, Keren and Patrick....you would love the clothes here.  Not much for you emma, but I did find you something.

Jewelery, and all sorts of stuff.  Great to barter with the locals.

Food is great.  And alot of choice at the night market.

Well, early start tommorrow.  Off to the Hilltribe villiage with Doug Higgins.  One of his projects.

Be Blessed!

Dee

Siem Reap Airport

Logging in from the Airport.  Met up with the group wednesday morning.  So much has happened.  No time to write now, but will be back later.

BTW, I think we all have a stomach ache from laughing so hard.

Be Blessed!

Dee and Co

sihanouk ville

Day 3, and I think each day has its own joys.

Last night, we had a BBQ on the beach, sat with the children that earn a living off the "barang" (white people), and talked with a young man from USA, who lives with a family while he stays here, and helps out with their bar.  Food has been AMAZING. But more so, its the people. thats what this place is about.  Lots of smiles.  They love the cameras. Had a fab massage for US$3. maybe another one today.

Started the morning by watching the sunrise.  Truly beautiful. Today, we rented a driver-TUK TUK, for US$17 and he took us on a tour of sihanoukville.  We saw all of the beaches, went and saw a temple, and talked with the monks, and the children.  We also went to the fishing wharfe.  Now that was just something very special.  Shops along the way, children smiling.  Our tuk tuk driver help with some language barriers.  Got some amazing photos.  A very special people.

Then we came back and had lunch at the hotel, and it was just lovely.  Great flavours.  Kate had a wonderful omlette and I had chicken and cashews, but I dont think it was chicken....needless to say I ate the veges and the cashews and the rice.

Tonight we are going to stay at bungalows on the beach.  With A/C.  The nightlife at the beach is great.  Lots of westerners, mostly younger than us.  Kate called us the ""old mums"".  wasnt funny at the time, but I kind of think it fits.  Mostly all of the girls that are travelling seem to be in their early 20s.  But the cambodian people are great.  Most of the kids speak great english, so its so easy.

Well, I think the beach is where I need to head.

More tales to come, I am sure!

Be blessed!

Dee and Kate

Bus, Beach, Beautiful

This morning we hopped on a bus for Sihankoville.  The beach.  WOW!  Its amazing.  The most amazing white sand.  Lovely people, smiling, etc.  Massages on the beach.  Met a lovely boy named Gin, who made bracelets.  And we have booked accomodation right on the beach for tommorrow night. Tonight we stay at the Golden Sand Hotel, 150m from the beach.  US$25 a night. Pool and A/C.  Luxurious.  The place tommorrow night is bungalow with A/C at US$20 a night, and right on the beach.  Cant get any closer. 

The bus ride was great.  Saw a lot of countryside, stunning, poor, and so green.  Feeling so blessed to have this experience.  Even including the elevator power going out in the Hotel.  Was good for a laugh...but very dark.

Well the pool is calling.

Be Blessed!

Dee and Kate

Greetings from Phnom Pehn

Well, we made it!!  Safely at that.  Easy flights, slept alot of the way.  Hit a thunderstorm about 1 hour out of Bangkok. (what thunderstorm says Kate...she slept thru it)  Bit of turbulance, and the kwell had worn off, so I didnt cope with that so well.  It left me feeling a little under the weather for the rest of the day.  Between that and some heat and exhaustion.....Kate was complaining that I was so quiet and I think I may have kind of freaked her out.

Sarah Ardu met us at the airport, and we went and left out gear, had a drink and then went and had a look around the Russian Market, its like nothing I have ever seen before. Tight walking space, hot and smelly.  Then we went to lunch, in a little place owned by a westerner.  Air conditioning, and great service.

After lunch, I really needed some sleep, so did Sarah.......and Kate, well she was off for an adventure.  Kate walked for about 2 hours, finding some interesting things to video, including deep fried tarantulas, and the HOT Dogs (BBQ dogs heads, teeth and all).  She hopped on a moto(motorbike) to come back to Sarahs and the guy got a little lost.  She now wishes she had got video of the guy asking for directions about 6 times.  But with a little help from a map, and some good direction help, they made it.

After my sleep, I went  for a shower (I was so hot that my skin felt like it was burning), and then took off to look for Kate, not knowing that she had gone so far.  So had a bit of a look around, close by so that I didnt get lost, and got some photos of some of the locals. 

The people are so friendly, and the smiles melt you!

Hoping all is well at home.

Be Blessed!

Dee

Flying Out!

Well, this could be the last post for a while. 
Lets just hope that the internet access is as good as lonely planet says it is!
Should be able to get somewhere to update you all within a few days (if we arent having too much fun)

Take Care!
Dee

5 sleeps

If you are reading this, and seeing the new header, you might think that we have left already.  We havent, but I know that we wont have much free time between now and then, so thought I would change, and be ready.  Not long to wait now.  And seriously, it still doesnt feel real.  Dont think it will till we board the plane.

Please comment if you read the blog while I'm gone, so that I know that you are keeping up with the fun we will have.

Dee

9 days

I thought I would post some links today, to some of the things we will be up to while away.  Most importantly is who we are going with. International Children's Care
These are the two orphanages that we will visit cambodian orphanage Thailand Orphanage
I think we are just about organised now.  Just a few little tidy up things to do, and leave the family with a few bits and pieces to cover the camps and book week things that are on.
Need to iron and pack properly, and I think I will be ready to fly.
We fly out next Thursday night, and arrive in Phnom Penh on Friday morning.
Then on Saturday we will head down the coast .  We will look around for about 4 days before heading back to Phnom Penh.

Then we are off with the rest of the group for 10 days.  One of the amazing places we are going to is Angkor .  One of the 7 manmade wonders of the world.  So much of this trip to look forward to.  Changi Mai, Bangkok, and Krabi.

Well, need to go and get some stuff done.  Be back soon.

Two weeks and counting

Two weeks today till we leave on the trip of a lifetime!
And today we pick our tickets up from the travel agent.

Some of the cool things we are doing:
Riding Elephants, going to National Parks, Changi Mai, Angkor Wat (I think this place will be amazing), Bangkok, Phnom Penh, the river kwai, and more.

I am nearly fully packed now, got the most amazing new camera bag.  Lowepro slingshot 200AW.  Totally rocks!

Well, better scoot and do some normal housework things.  LOL

Travel Bug

4 weeks today, and I am leaving on a jet plane, for somewhere slightly “different”, out of the ordinary, and downright exciting!!

On the 6^th of September, my friend Kate and I leave for Phnom Penh, capital city of Cambodia, and 4 days on the south coast of Cambodia. Returning to Phnom Penh to meet up with about 8 others for “Vision” an International Children’s Care mission trip, in Cambodia and Thailand.

Then at the end of the tour we head to the Thailand coast, to Krabi, near Phuket, for some more sun, sand and to relax before flying home.

3 weeks of sun, more sun, and lots of amazing experiences.

Stay tuned, and I will share more, as this trip draws near.