Well, we are finally on our way to London.  Our first four nights was spent in Melbourne with my uncle Andrew, aunty Vicky and cousin Rowan. 

The time in Oz was great!  We spent quite a bit of time just chilling out and doing chores (like CV stuff).  We had tickets to the quarter finals of the 7s at the Commonwealth Games which was great....but it got even better cos Andrew was working at the games (volunteer working bless his community-oriented soul!) and as a result of the he scored tickets to the semis and finals which he gave to us!!!  Jules and I though all our christmases had come at once when we got the chance to see New Zealand win a gold medal in the 7s!!  Jules got a great video shot on her camera of the team doing the haka after receiving their medals!  We managed to catch up with Kat Sykes who was at the 7s as part of a 30th brithday party (nice way to celebrate!!) which was great too.

Andrew, Vicky, Rowan, Vicky's sister (mary), Jules and I all went out to dinner on our last night there which was fabulous.  the restaurant was yummy.  Rowan demostrated his cooking skills for us too when he made some chocolate biccies that were absolutely divine!

Then it was off to Thailand...we were both quite nervous about poeple slipping things in our bags (I know, always the cynical mistrusting skeptic!) but we were both astounded to see that there was next to no security at the airport.  Our bags weren't even checked!!  Christchurch has a higher level of security than what we saw there.  so our efforts to get the bags shrink-wrapped were entirely unnecessary!

So far in Thailand we have spent our time in Bagkok.  Aside from the warm weather (which even the locals are commenting on), our impressions are that the city is very dirty and smelly.  We liken the smell to one that changes from dog to farts depending on where you are.  I would hate to try driving here cos the road markings are nothing more than a guide and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason behind the way people drive.  The other feeling we have is one of being harassed....every time we walk down the street there is someone trying to get us to go somewhere where "their mate" will sort us out with something for a "good price" or to spend money on whatever they are selling.  When we got in a tuktuk (or however you spell that!) and asked to go to the train station, we had to spend quite some time convincing the driver that the train station was actually where we wanted to go as opposed to everywhere else he was trying to take us. 

We have booked the next few days which includes a trip to the river kwai, ayutthaia and chaing mai.  We will be in chaing mai for just over a week and during that time we have booked to do a three day trek camping with the hill tribes and a one day tour to chaing rai.  All up we have secured tours and accommodation for 12 days and it only cost us $400NZD!!!!

Finally, we have just come from a gem/precious stone factory.  that was great!  We learnt about the mining of ruby and sapphire stones in Thailand, saw them making jewellery and then got to buy some!!  I am now the proud new owner of a gold ring with a sapphire stone (fitted to size while we waited!!).

Anyway, thats enough for now.

Will update again after the hilltribe trek!

A

xx