Broken toe in Ko Samui....

Dave's broken his toe.

Well, we're pretty sure he has. Here's a photo.

(It's the second one from the left by the way. The other toes have always been a bit weird.)

Right then, it was temples last time, and we've been all over the place since then!!

Wednesday 14th November

Got up at 5.30, and got picked up. Literally.

A pick-up truck turned up to take us to get the ferry to Phnom Penh, with 6 people (plus luggage) sat on the back already. There was definitely no room for us, so we got on. With our rather large rucksacks.

6 people later, and enough was enough. 12 people crammed on to a pick-up truck. 4 in the cab with the driver, and a total of 10 people (plus luggage!) on the back.

We got the speedboat for 6 hours down the river Mekong to Phnom Penh, making sure we got completely sunburnt on the way.

Arrived in Phnom Penh to be greeted by scores of tuk-tuk drivers (all called Mr Tuk-Tuk we believe), all offering to take us to their choice of hotel. We bartered (and won!) and got a lift to the Spring Guesthouse.

We went for some food at Mama's Restaurant and met an American war veteran. He actually said the famous line... ''When I was in 'Nam''. Best christmas ever.

We saw a bloke that looked like Gordon Ramsay that night. And a massive insect thing jumped on Dave's face.

Thursday 15th November

We went to the Genocide museum via Del Gusto restaurant.

The lady who showed us round had lost her whole family to the Poi Pot regime. Her husband, parents and children were all killed at the S-21 concentration camp. (Which is now the museum)

We looked round the cells that prisoners were kept in, and there were hundreds of skulls there of victims. You can even see where the bullet entered and left the victim's head.

On a happier note, we went for a free swim at the Royal Palace hotel. Not up to our usual free swim standards, but it was better than having a shower.

We went to the riverside area (where most of the bars and travellers were) on the back of a 'moto' (motorbike taxi), had a cheeseburger, then slept.

Friday 16th November

After yesterday's cheer, we topped it today by going to the killing fields, where 8,000 bodies have so far been exhumed. It was here that many executions took place, and the bodies buried.

People were executed in various ways, and some graves were full of headless bodies.

There is a display of all the skulls that have been found here too. Scary to think it all happened less than 30 years ago.

Saturday 17th November

Got a tuk-tuk to Phnom Penh airport, had fish and chips (it's a local dish, you wouldn't have heard of it). Flew from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and on to Hanoi. We had to pay $25 each to LEAVE Cambodia!! Ridiculous.

Got the airport bus in to Hanoi, and headed for the famous 'Old Quarter', where all the action is. We checked in to the Carmellia Hotel, and had some food and drinks.

Sunday 18th November

Walked to the lake in the centre of Hanoi, and visited a small temple on an island.

There is a beer brewed in Vietnam call 'Bia Hoi'. It's sold on virtually every street corner, and it costs 2ooo dong per glass. That's about 7p.

So, a few Bia Hoi's later, and wallet still very much intact, we were loving every second.

We ended up in a strange club called 'Funky Monkey', but left after one drink. (It cost nearly a pound. Far too expensive.)

EVERYTHING closes at midnight in Hanoi. Bars, shops and restaurants all close down and the police come round to check. We managed to bribe the Bia Hoi lady for one last drink about 12.10. We're so naughty.

Monday 19th November

We'd booked a trip to Halong Bay for today, so we got up at 7.45 to be picked up at 8.

It's a 3-4 hour bus ride, and there was a bloke on the bus who managed to talk for the whole journey. Non-stop. Without a break. He just talked, and talked, and talked. The guy was amazing.

Unfortunately, when we got there, it turned out he was going on a different trip, so we parted company there. I bet he's still talking though.

Got on our boat, and headed out to sea. We visited a fishing village on the way (a floating village, naturally), and then had lunch served on the boat. Squid and chips. Lovely stuff.

Then we got on a smaller boat and sailed under a cave to some hidden lagoons. Absolutely stunning. One of the most memorable things we've done so far.

Then we landed, and walked up a steep hill to another, massive cave. It's all illuminated now, and looks incredible.

Got back to Hanoi (still no sign of talking boy), and had some more Bia Hoi's. Then bed.

Tuesday 20th November

Up at 6.30 to get a taxi to Hanoi airport. Our driver was having a row on the phone, in Vietnamese, all the way.

Got the 9.20 flight to Bangkok, where there was something being filmed in the airport. Dave will definitely be on telly somewhere in the world fairly soon. (Accidentally walked in front of the camera!!)

Finally got our flight on to Surat Thani, where we got a bus to the pier. It's about an hour and a half journey, so we both slept.

We caught the 7pm ferry to Ko Samui which took about 2 hours, and shared a taxi with some people we'd met to the Chaweng Bay on the other side of the island. This is where it's all at. There's Starbucks, McDonalds, Burger King etc. It is the most commercialised place you'll ever see! It's like Blackpool with good weather. But cheaper.

While we were in Black Jack English Pub (!!!), a bloke came along with an Iguana and let us take photos with it....

Then another guy turned up with a monkey....

Then we went and danced the night away (we're rubbish), and ended up at a beach party at the hotel next door. The sea is warm even at 4am!! Brilliant night.

As we were walking through the hotel grounds, Dave walked in to a piece of concrete sticking up from the ground, and we're fairly sure he's broken his toe. But a kind local man poured some red stuff on it, so it'll be fine.

3 days to get it fixed before the full moon party. It ain't gonna happen. Gutted.


Not a bad beach though is it?

Speak to you soon!! xxx