Thai Cookery...MMMM

So got up at the craic of dawn this morning and off we went on our merry way to learn how to cook thai food! Out little teacher collected us in a taxi and off we went to the market to get all our ingredients. Market stank so had to hold nose for about half an hour! Picked up some lovely thai veggies that I've never seen before or heard of before which kinda defeats the purpose as we are supposed to learning this cookery so we can cook thai food at home. I guess I' ll get replacement veggies! Anyhoo we made fried rice which was yummy, then we made prawn spring rolls, red chicken curry with noodles and some sort of salad, sweet chilli sauce and best of all......deep fat fried bannanas in cocunut batter!!

T'was all really nice except for the salad which was so spicy it actually seared by throat closed for about 10 minutes!

This will be my last blog entry from my holiday cause SURPRISE!!!! I'm coming home a few days early and will be home on Friday! So this is a test to see who's reading this!! If you are then you won't be surprised to see me and if you're not paying any attention to my blog then boo you and you'll be surprised to see me!!

Mekong Delta

Rice Crispies!!--->

We decided to make out way back to Cambodia on the Mekong River...me thinkgs it's one of the biggest if not the biggest river in Vietnam/Cambodia. We went on a 2 day tour where they basically transport you as much of possible on the river (some of it has to be done by road) from Vietnam back into Cambodia. Along the way they make stops at local villages, markets, cottage industries where the locals make stuff to sell at the markets etc. We went to see where they make Coconut Candy and also where they make rice crispies!! That was kinda cool! Vietnam is the second biggest rice producer in the world so a lot of the little idustry factories we went to see revolved around rice...rice crispies..rice crispie squares.....rice paper.......rice liquer..you get the idea!

On the second day we took a little row boat which is rowed by the women of the village to make some extra money. Many of them had their kids in the boat with us and they were soooo cute. The kid in our boat was absolutely gorgeous and kept holding my hand and running after us...she only liked me for the chocolate biscuits in my bag..I feel so used!! She was also amazed or should I say disgusted by my freckles!!! She was only 5 and every time I showed her my arm with the freckles on it she put on this face!!!

My new friend from the boat!

Afraid of my freckles!!

After the morning rowing we got to the Vietnam/Cambodia border which is where the day went slowly downhill! Our guide told us we would only have to wait about an hour at the border crossing which later turned into 3 hours. That wasn't so bad cause we made friends with some more local kids who kept wanting to play rock/paper/scissors and hand slapping games! They loved playing but aftera while all our hands were burning..they kept fighting over who would get to play with us next! Suppose we were a novelty for the afternoon!

No running water in villages so they wash in the Mekong river

After 3 hours we were told we could clear immigration and customs to leave Vietnam..we then spent about 40 minutes on no mans land waiting for another boat to arrive to take us down the river about 1km so we could enter Cambodia. It was suppposed to be a fast speed boat type thing but after 40 mins we were told that it had broken! We then had to get a little tug boat down the river..clear Cambodian immigration (another hour wait) and eventually get on our way. After immigration it was only supposed to be another hour by boat and hour by bus to get to Pnom Phen the capital and our finish boat. Unfortunately for us cause the speed boat was broken our little tug boat (hard wooden benches and floors) took 3 hours on the river. Whilst on the river we had a monsoon rain storm which forced us to stop for a while....we all got soaked on the boat as the roof was leaking! Eventually made it to the little port where we had to climb up the extremely muddy banks of the river to get our bus. It had been raining for 3 hours so the banks were very muddy..one of the girls slipped and was filthy. Then spent another 2 hours on a rattly mini bus on the bad Cambodian roads in the rain and mud! We were supposed to reach Pnom Phen at 5 but it was 10 when we eventually made it to our guest house..tired..wet..smelly and filthy!

T'was a great two days though..not so much for the activities and things we were brought to see but more so for the things we saw when we were just cruising down the river. All the local river village kids would run along the banks after us screaming and waving hello...these people have to be happiest people in the world!

Relaxing Day in Saigon!

So forgot to mention that on the way to those tunnels yesterday we stopped by a handicrafts factory which was also pretty cool..they make really nice lacquered plaques using egg shells and mother of pearl to make out the picture, outlines and colours...very good!!

So today I decided to get the aul hair cut and my god was it an experience..none of this in, out and that will be 40 Euro stuff! It took about 45 minutes in total and all I was getting was a trim and I was the only person in the salon...












So first they bring you over to this massage like table which leans over a normal hairdressers basin for washing your hair. She wets it and puts in Shampoo and for the next 10 minutes proceeds to massage my scalp, drag her nails (really long like a witch) through my hair and on my scalp. She then rinses and does the whole thing again except it actually hurt this time cause she was seriously scratching those nails along my head!! She then give me her idea of a face massage which was basically holding the shower hose 2 inches from my face. I never really understood about Chinese water torture until now...for about a minute the shower hose is in my face. Then she puts some sort of foam on my face, scratches my face with those nails again...then the shower hose is back in my face again...eyes killing me at this stage as is head!! After that she decides my hair needs conditioner so we are back with the scratching....Eventually after about 40 minutes I'm ready for the haircut!!!! which takes all of 5 minutes!!! Interesting!! And all for only $6!!! Do you think I should suggest this to Peter Mark when I get back!!

Ho Chi Mhin/Saigon - Vietnam

So we arrived in Saigon a couple of days ago and despite the Lonely Planet telling us it was the one place on our travels where they would rob the eye out of your head....we really like it here! We were really worried at first as the LP was full of warnings about thiefs boarding busses and riffling through baggage in the hold, pick pockets at markets, drive by scooter muggings of sunglasses off your head!!! So far the people here have been amazingly nice!!










<---Tunnel Entrance! American Tank left behind after anti tank mine ----->

Yesterday we spent the day on a history lesson expedition! We spend the first half of the day about 60 kms outside Saigon in the Cu Chi Tunnels. These are a set of underground tunnels about 200km in length which the Viet Cong (guerilla force which supported the North Vietnamese Communists during war) used as a base to launch attacks and hide out from the American bombs etc. The tunnels were built over three levels underground to store ammunition and weapons, as homes for VC fighters, kitchens, food store and as a means of getting around undetected. About 16,000 VC fighters used these tunnels during the war. They were built to be teeny tiny tunnels with even teenier entrances (entrance only about 30 cms wide) as the Vietnamese are pretty tiny and they knew that Americans were generally bigger so that if they did find the tunnells they wouldn't be able to get in or out..they'd get stuck!














<---- The tiny tunnels A plane??---->

Really interesting tour especially as our tour guide spoke certain words of English with an American accent..he kinda sounded like Adrian Krownour from 'Good Morning Vietnam'. Turns out he was an interpreter for the Americans during the war and was a Staff Sergeant in the South Vietnamese Army!













Huey the Helicopter

After visiting the tunnels we also went to see the War Museum which was also very interesting ..lots of US tanks, planes and Huey Helicopters left over from the war which were abandones when the US pulled out. Also had a great display of photos from various foreign war correspondents who died during war. The other interesting thing was an exhibition on all the people who were physically scarred from the use of various chemicals by the Americans during the war. They had photos of the people and of their children and sometimes their grandchildren all with various birth defects, scarring etc etc.













The famous photo of that little girl running away from bomb and her now --->


All in all a very interesting day.......really amazing places..My Dad (was possibly military historian in previous life!) would have loved it so took loads of pics for him!

Pnom Phen

Arrived in Pnom Phen yesterday to a cool thunder and lightening storm..tis the wet season here doncha know and they get monsoons and stuff..it rained again today at the same time so I presume it's a daily occurence....brilliant thunder and lightening though!














Mad Cambodians everywhere on their little scooters..sometimes 4 to a scooter!!

So today we went to visit the Genocide Memorials at the Killing Fields (where 9,000 people where executed under the Khmer Rouge) and S-21 Torture Prison (where all intellectuals, teachers, professionals etc where held and tortured prior to being excecuted). It was a very sobering visit to think that this was all just 30 years ago. Anyone considered intellectual was tortured then killed and the definition of intelectual even included people who wore long hair or had glasses....even women, children and babies were tortured and killed. Made for very interesting visit despite being very depressing.












On a lighter note we both treated ourselves to a massage this evening which was carried out by blind people. Lots of bling massage parlours everywhere here because it's one of the ways they can survive. No social security or disability allowance here...it's even worse for the people who lose limbs from stepping on one of the 2 million land mines still left in this country..they have no prospects whatsoever..

Cambodia!!

So here we are in Cambodia......and man is it hot and it's sweaty!!! So hot that it's nearly impossible to go out in the middle of the day......we've taken to retiring to our beds most afternoons for a couple of hours!! We've spent the past few days in Siem Reap in Northern Cambodia and as everyone has told us we have met the nicest people here! They are only too happy to help us especially in our guesthouse and are completely overjoyed when you give them a tip of even $1. Our guesthouse 'Bou Savvy' is really nice and the staff are great especially our Tuk Tuk driver.

Anyhoo spent the past day or so walking around the temples of Angkor Wat (Wiki it Paul!) and they are amazing....lots of temples in this one area and they are all different. This is also where parts of Tomb Raider were filmed for Angie buffs out there!

We head off to Pnom Phen in Southern Cambodia tomorrow wich is the capital and there we'll be getting a bit of Cambodian History....we're gonna visit the killing fields which is where thousands of Cambodians were excecuted in the 70's under Pol Pot dictatorship and the Khmer Rouge...

Kuala Lumpur Petronas Towers

Forgot to mention that we met Reuben (old secondary buddy) in Singapore!! He's out in Malaysia for a couple of weeks on a training course for new job! He was only about half hour away so we just had to meet up!

Now, Petrona Towers by day and night

mad malaysian dancers!!

From skanky to luxury!!

From this

To this!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHH

Oh man the luxury of staying in a proper hotel!!! Staying in the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur and it's gorgeous!!! 4* Hotel with proper matress and not just the foam mattresses we are used to, proper fluffly pillows, pool, mini bar, TV with no one else challenging for the remote, and best of all a bath!!!

Singapore

SO arrived late last night in Singapore, The Lion City, (not sure why) and spent the evening eating noodles in our prison cell like room! Trying to get to grip with chop sticks in preperation for the next month! You will also all be interested to hear the momentus news that Deirdre has developed an addiction to a vegetable..those who know me will know that I have previously been averse to all things green and good for me! Tis all Dave's Aunt Maire's fault....she made me eat the sweetcorn!! and now I'm like addicted eating eat practicaly every day! anyhoo the point of this tangent was to say that they are none stop eating it here in their noodles ..yeah me!

Spent the day on Sentosa Island which is an island off the coast of Singapore Island. Big military significance in WWII as it protected shipping in Singapore Harbour..large military base, guns etc on the island. When the Japanese took over Sentosa they established a POW camp there so t'was quite interesting to see all the museums, forts etc....Even got a pin for your flack jacket Dad!

Nowadays Sentosa is a touristy island with aquariums etc where you can pet pink dolphins..(yes they are pink)!!

15.05.07 - Day on the Great Barrier Reef!

David Attenborough eat your heart out! Just had the most amazing trip out the reef today! Got up at 7am and back at 4.30 and spent so much time out snokelling and diving! Really amazing! The boat stops off at two reef locations and you are free to snorkel and dive as much as you want! Tried an introductary scuba dive and didn't like it so much...something to do with me getting copious ammounts of seawater in my mouth every time I took a breath which isn't technically supposed to happen! A lot happier withthe snorkelling thank you very much and say just as much!

Got some cool pics of Nemo, plus lots of coral, bluey fish thing and a cool sea turtle we have named Ellen!! (Make sure Ellie sees the pics Sue!!) ALternatively knowing how Ellie is..if she doesn't like being a sea turtle she can be the cool blue fish thing instead! Cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed this and it was probabley the longest I've ever been swimming ever! In total spent about 2 1/2 hours snorkelling around the two reefs and even then I didn't want to get out..Only had to cause my skin was wrinkling off!!

We rented an underwater camera for the day..when I say rented it was more like stole cause they forgot to charge us for it!! We figured we deserved something for free after our parking fine in Brisbane! Very difficult to get good shots underwater when you not used to it but got a few including the the sea turtle which Dave chased for a good 10 minutes! When you bring the camera back they burn all the images onto a cd for you together with some professionally taken shots! Sweet!