Just some thoughts

So I thought I would collate some thoughts and observations together about my travels.  They are not in any particular order, just as they spring into my head.

1.  How can the Thais eat so bloody much and remain stick thin? You should see them put it away, it's shovelled In lol. Some of them are really petite, they must be a size 4 lol and that is just the lady boys lol.  If I lived here I would not get any clothes to fit me, it's bad enough in England but the good thing is my friends that the majority of you would be in the same boat as me because anything above a size 10 here looks massive.  Welcome to my world.  I can't imagine the difficulty I would have in buying a bra.  God only knows what I would do.  The women are very tiny where I have been blessed/cursed in abundance lol.

2.  Why do you only see older western men with younger Thai women? Yes girls, I know we all know the answer to that one 😏 lol.

3.  How does any work get done.  More so in Cambodia than Thailand - there appears to be a lot of sleeping and hanging around, but wait for it, only by men.  You see tuk tuk and coach drivers either sound asleep in the back of the tuk tuk or they have strung a hammock up.  Lol I'm not saying anything lol these are my observations.

4.  Who does own the dogs and are there any vets in the Far East and if so, I bet they don't earn anything like in the UK.

5.  In both Thailand and Cambodia why have a green flashing (not literally girls) man at the traffic lights if they traffic still aims at you and does not stop lol?

6.  Why doesn't TFL (Transport for London) have priority seats for Bhuddist monks lol.

7.  Why does the whole world commute at 17:00?  After using the Skytrain and ferry in Bangkok rush hour I think the Northern Line is going to be a breeze!

8.  How many plastic bottles are being used daily around the world?

9.  The whole world is on a smart phone!  No one speaks to each other anymore.  Couples are sitting their tapping away including the monks lol!

10. The whole world are on Facebook or playing Candy Crush, or hooking up on Grindr or Tinder lol including the monks lol.

11. Everyone wants the wi fi code lol.

12. I don't want to see a McDonalds, Burger King, Hard Rock Cafe or Starbucks on every corner thank you America.  Where the cost of a meal (especially in the HRC) is more than people earn.  

13. Why am I so tasty to Mosquitos? But no one else whats a bite lol!

14. There are utter knobs in every country lol and they stand out even if you don't speak the language.

15. The british still think if you talk loudly and slowly people will understand.  Lol it is amusing to watch lol.

16.  Sex sells ......... In any country and at any price!

17.  We are fortunate to have the NHS so don't moan about it.  However, diazepam is dirt cheap in Cambodia ........ Perhaps that is why they are asleep lol.

18.  Thank goodness I am a vegetarian and I really do not think I will be eating fish again either since the one wriggled over my foot to escape 😟

19.  Why are our cinemas generally manky and expensive when it is the complete opposite here?  Where's that money going?  Even the popcorn etc at the cinema here is cheap.

20.  Teenagers are the same in any country.  Think the world owes them something.  Except when the King is shown on the screen at the cinema then total respect to them.

21.  Man's greatest enemy to mankind is man!

22.  But I still believe the majority of people are kind!

23.  Why are we paying so much for the Internet in the UK?????

24.  Why are there so many moped in Phnom Phen and why don't they care about pollution?

25.  Are there any Chinese or Koreans left on China and Korea?

26.  What do they do with all the stuff they buy?

27.  Why do the Korean's insisted on 

        A. Always using a selfie stick

        B. Pose for a photo doing the peace sign

        C. Take 50 photos of the same thing

28.  Why do people think walking around looking like Doctor Bob from the Muppets by wearing a mask over their mouths is going to help at all?

29.  How strange was it for me yesterday to be the only farang (foreigner) on the train yesterday.  But for many in the UK this is the same for them every day!

30.  Where do monks keep their phones lol!

31.  Why is there no deodorant in Doha or Abu Dhabi? I can see a niche in the market there lol

32.  Why do I think I'm turning into Dame Judi Dench? I wish there was a real Marigold Hotel I could retire too.

Day Fourteen - Bangkok then the long, long trek back 😕

Terrible nights sleep.  It was very humid then new guests arrived at 2:30am, they weren't particularly noisy in all fairness. I was a sleep until 4:30 but I think what kept me awake was the fact that apparently the board has been put up outside the cottage saying To Rent.  No big surprises I was expecting it but my head was racing as to what I need to get done now, now and how the hell am I going to do it all. I guess it's all getting a bit real and it's a tad scary when there is only me to arrange it all.  

So shower then my delicious breakfast.  Me and the older woman have been teaching each other english/thai.  God only knows what we have been saying to each other.  I need to be out of my room by 11:30 but as I thought there is no problem with a shower and change of clothes later in the day.  So I will use my market bag to host my evening and flying home clothes (coat can go in the case, that really is one step too far)! Today I will not venture far, just stay local, there is nothng I need to get.  I guess I feel a bit flat this morning. It's a typical Karen thing ....... Doesn't know what she wants, I guess I have been like that most of my life lol. Me and my friend Jackie were 'talking' last night and we compiled a list of attributes any future 'partner' of mine has to have.  Obviously, I am not expecting him to have them all, see I can do compromise but remember I am a Virgo.  So if any of you know a candidate, please put his name forward for selection lol.  He must be:

Preferably 6'4" then I will feel tiny lol

Preferably younger than me - real age not 29 I'm not that sad lol (Andrew Murphy keep quiet lol)

Dark hair, with a beard and broad shoulders

Preferably foreign but I can negotiate on that lol

Does yoga, reiki and meditation

Is a vegetarian

Can find and bring me a mangosteen (or even know what one is and has eaten one will do, see compromise lol)

And love the Far East as much as I and loves to travel and have adventures

Now there are 7 million people in London.  Can anyone work out the odds?

It's not looking good is it?

I think Green Day sum up how I'm feeling.  It's one of the songs on my playlist for when I leave Stoke.  I have told Andy that I know I will be in a state so just ignore me, he will, I will put my iPod on and listen to some selective songs and hopefully by the time I get to no later than Stafford I will be ok.  Anyway, enjoy Green Day, but listen to the words.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnQ8N1KacJc

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right
I hope you had the time of your life

So take the photographs, and still-frames in your mind
Hang them on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoo's of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth, it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right
I hope you had the time of your life

It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life

Well considering I was going to have a quiet day it is now 14:45 and I have walked 12354 steps aready.  Today's quest was to return the plug I bought the other day, as it was the wrong one.  I walked past the shop four times yesterday but it must have been closed with the shutters down because could I find it?  But found it first time today.  Sung Song (I bet you have Neil Diamond in your head now lol) wrote me a note In Thai explaining what I needed.  It reminded me when I was sent up the shop by my Mum with a note.  Anyway, no joy.  The shop would only exchange it for a multi country adaption pack which looked as if it belonged in the 1950s and was made of bakerlite. Needless to say, there was no refund.  So I tried a couple of other electrical shops but I have come to the conclusion that no one travels outside of Thailand - mind you why should they it is a beautiful country.

I ended up down a little road that I was familiar with.  If any of you have seen the Hairy Bikers in Bangkok lol it's the road where they cooked for the tuk tuk drivers.  Found a dodgy looking plug lol but he wanted 100B for it - really I think not.  Walked a bit further and got one for 60B.  Got to love a bargain.  So Jackie if saves Nigel doing a re plug on my lights I bought for my new bedroom lol.  I then went to sit in the park. Remember, the one where the guy was meditating.  It was lovely just watching the river flow by. I guess I will be doing a lot of that in London, watching the river.  I was listening to Damien Rice and was getting a bit upset to be honest so I decided to meditate and time I wasn't joined by any Americans.

By now it was getting on for lunch so I started to make my way to Jenny's when I saw these huge plastic bags with a zip for 160B about £3.20 and I thought that would be fine to pack my two duvets and pillows in when I move.  Oh the elderly woman who served me was so lovely. Anyone would have thought I had bought the whole shop.  She beckoned me over and have me a handful of cashew nuts and something that looked like cannabis lol wrapped in paper.  I was so touched by her kindness and thanked her, in Thai, as I left eating the cashews.

Jenny was delightful.  She knows my name now, I suspect the french guy has told her as Sung Song has told him.  I was quite taken back to be honest.  I ordered papaya salad and she asked if I wanted it spicy ........ Silly question.  Then she really made me think.  She said when do you go? I explained it was later tonight and that I did not want to go and she said why? Just be happy.  And that is it isn't it, just be happy.  It's the fundamental belief of all Buddhists that all should be happy.  The papaya salad was bloody hot lol but bloody lovely, I wish I could make this at home; maybe when I am in London and can get the ingredients.  Popped back to the hostel to drop off new storage bag and to find out what the cannabis looking thing was that the 80 year old had given me lol.  The girls said oh it's, it's it's but no english word was found.  So I said do eat it? The girls said yes so in my gob it went.  It was chewy and quite hot tasting but I wish I knew what it was because it was gorgeous.  So here I am, in the cafe across the road, drinking an iced Americano and feeling ok, I'm feeling happy Jenny.

Last lot of washing is in the laundry, my old faithful thin towel lol and suitcase etc is in the storage room.  Plan for later is to have a shower and hair wash and wear my summer dress for the last time for another 12 months and go to Jenny's for my favourite - Mossaman Tofu Curry and Brown Rice.  Airport transport has been arranged for 22:00 and I will, if it kills me lol, cram everything in my suitcase. If I am fortunate enough to come back again next year I have it planned lol.  I will have a few days with my friends, here in Bangkok then for about £14 I will catch the air conditioned train over night to Chang Mai which is north of Thailand and have a few days there. The. I will go into either Loas or Myarmar (Burmha) and have a look around there.  I guess it's ok to have a plan for just in cases lol.

So said my until next time to Sung Sing then off to Jenny's for the final supper - my favourite tofu mossaman curry and brown rice.  Said goodbye to Jenny with a big hug and kiss then she said you come back to Bangkok as an english teacher it is not a problem I can get you a job.  So I have a job in Cambodia on hold now I'm wanted in Bangkok ....... I need to get a job in London first.

So my friends I will post this now.  Bus wink be here in 40 minutes so I better get my UK clothes on and get ready for tears when I say goodbye to the girls.  I hope you have enjoyed reading the rantings of a mad woman and thank you for accompanying me on this amazing adventure.

Much love. X

Sandles

Do you remember last year I wrote about my towel who has been with me longer than any bloke? Well this year meet sandles!

Sandles were purchased at Clarks at Cheshire Oaks around 2000! They have walked four continents with me:

Europe, America, Australasia and Asia.

They have been plodding the streets this year and for any of you who think when I go away it's a rest. Let me tell you that to date I have walked, according to my FitBit or as I call it my FatBut I have walked so far

71.11 miles 

How cool is that? Well it's not cool it's bloody hot but you get what I mean.

So thank you sandles. I know you are not cool looking and trendy in the UK, but you just fit in fine on my travels and i hope you continue to serve me just as well as my towel, which for the record is of course with me 😊

Yes I know I have llama toes lol lol.

Day Thirteen - Bangkok

Had a good nights sleep.  It's difficult to sleep in the UK for me and here it's I hot.  I was tired last night and fell asleep with my iPad in my hand but then was awake just after six.  But the FatBut lol tells me I have had 7 hours 30 minutes rest so that will do.

Just had my lovely breakfast of eggs on toast and decent coffee, thank goodness.  The girls have been asking about Cambodia and I have been telling them. They had said that they had heard that people are husseled there but they did laugh when I told them that GG kept asking where I was going and I refused to tell him lol.

So today I think I have a plan, but I will go with the flow. I leave the hostel tomorrow around 22:00 tomorrow night.  I will have to be out of my room by noon but I know there won't be a problem getting a shower and somewhere to change.  Here's who cooked my breakfast this morning.  She is such a sweet mannered young woman. Her english is not brilliant, so she practices on me.

So made my way to the boat and went uptown.  Uptown is where all the swanky hotels are. Got off the ferry walked to the Skytrain station and overheard some Americans say to the guy selling tickets but we want yo go to the Royal Palace, why doesn't the subway go there! I explained to them that the 'Skytrain' does not go down town lol. I told them where to get the boat from, to, how much to pay and where to go to find the Royal Palace when the got off the boat lol.  I could be a tour guide.  

Found myself uptown again and wanted to get some special bits to take home with me and I certainly did that.  Had some lunch out, pasta, salad and garlic bread it was massive I felt so stuffed.  Then went to a different Mall. They make Bluewater/Trafford Cente look like nothing. 

Looked at the pictures again lol, I do like the cinema.  I went to see Hugh Grant's  new film ReWrite.  It was ok.  Had the King stand up thing again.  The cinema was once again beautiful. Spotlessly clean and a bargain at 150B £3:00 how cool is that.  I have seen two new films and paid less than what I would have paid to see one at the Odeon in Stoke.

Then I went to the loo lol and this was on the back of my door!

It made me chuckle so went to look in another toilet and there was this lol

You have to love the Thais. I wanted to take a picture on the Skytrain but I didn't want to offend. There were priority seats for the old or pregnant then a sign said Please give this seat up for a monk don't you just love it 

Back to the hostel via Skytrain and boat and for the first time my back is aching 😟 but I have walked another seven miles today and to be honest I feel a bit dehydrated.  It has been very humid. So I went to the 7-11 got some coke and have had a quiet night in my room. I wasn't hungry as lunch filled me up. So I might go to Jenny's for lunch and dinner tomorrow as tomorrow is going to be a long, long day. The girls have arranged airport transfer for me to be collected at 22:00 (the last one is 23:00) and it takes a good 45 minutes to get through the traffic to the airport.  My first flight leaves at 1:45 so I won't know if I'm coming or going.  I arrive back in Manchester at 12 noon on Friday.  I asked the girls to kidnap me but to be honest lol no one would know if I were back home or not - well perhaps a couple of people lol.

Day Twelve - Goodbye Siem Reap hello Bangkok

 GG really does need to brush up on his hotel management skills lol.  He sits there like the king of the hoop whilst his minions (women) do all the bloody work.  I've started to rattle his cage now and I love it.  For two mornings I had omlette the next day he said omlette so I said nah I'll have scrambled eggs thank you, which were awful. So today is the last morning. So there he is just sitting there surveying his empire and he says .... Breakfast, no good morning in any language just shouted at across the foyer so I stand there and I look at him and he shouts omlette scrambled eggs lol lol so I just look at him and reply so sweetly I will have the fried eggs this morning thank you. His face but the women laughed and laughed. It was a priceless moment.  So case packed and I have just nipped up to the coffee shop up the road for a decent coffee.  Considering the french had 'ownership' of this country the coffee GG serves on a daily basis is, well shit and trust me working in the community I have drunk some concoctions in my time. This is a lovely coffee bar and this morning I have treated myself to a croissant I mean it is not as if I am holiday or anything is it.

So a flight is booked with Primark Airlines lol aka Bangkok Airlines.  The flight is only 55 mins but I still have to be there two hours before! I did want to go by coach but it is eight hours and I have heard nightmare tales of having to wait at the thai Cambodian border.  At least this way I will be back at Jenny's for dinner.

Cambodia is an amazing place.  I don't care if I never see PP again but I am so pleased that I went to see for myself the horrors man can subject mankind too.  I have said to Daniel that he should take the coach down to experience it himself.  SR is completely different it is more laid back.  I have walked around here at night feeling quite comfortable - apart from the relentless madam tuk tuk, and you buy one dollar which I have now blocked out.

You see along the road containers holding soft drinks but don't assume they are plugged in. No, they have huge pieces of ice in them to keep the drinks cold. If people do not work here or have family, then they beg on the streets.  You see people with limbs, mainly legs, missing because of land mines that were planted during the many recent conflicts in this country.  In fact a guy has just stood at the end of the coffee shop with no hands begging it's so sad.  I gave him a dollar but then five minutes matter an older bloke comes along begging and I have to say no.  But I can now, I have figured it out. Daniel was telling me that up until recently there was hardly any education for he children and people in thieir 30s now did not attend school, only the very wealthy.  But this country has spirit. It's fighting back and why shouldn't it? Who am I to say you should not have what I have. But do what we have, really, really make us happy?  For me it does not and I learnt that last year when I went to Thailand and it has been confirmed to me ten fold again this year.  So yes i will go to London because I know in my heart of hearts I do not need to be in Stoke any more because as my doctor said .... Keep doing the same thing I will get the same results.  Yes I'm excited to be moving to London and Andy and I will have our sexless marriage lol and we will just figure it out, because that is what we do.  But, there will always be a pull on my heart to the Far East because here I just shine, I feel totally at home.  So before I leave for my flight and leave Cambodia I will leave you with these words again from Eat, Pray, Love if you have not read it if seen it I recommend you do so.

I've come to believe in something I call, the physics of the quest.  If you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting. It can be anything from your house to bitter old resentments and go on a truth seeking journey either externally or internally.  And if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and you accept everyone you meet on the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared, most of all to  face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself - then the truth will not be withheld from you.

I'm now starting to leave things behind, the place that has been 'home' for 24 years, furniture, belongings and friends.  I'm working on the difficult realities but there is one that will never mend my broken heart.  But I have met people who have been sent to make me laugh, when I hadn't laughed for months and others who have reassured me that I am not the only one as my dear Dad used to say with a light over my head that only special people see.

So back home opinionBangkok.  I took the Skytrain from the airport 42b (84p)!  Then negotiated a taxi mmm they said 250b (£5) I looked at them and said really, really lol I normally pay 150b (£3)! The first guy they took me too started to argue because of the traffic etc I said ok forget it I'll go down to that road and get a tuk tuk. No, no, no please take this taxi 150B says I oh yes yes.  Mmmm slightly different to Cambodia oh also I actually gave the address in Thai go me.  Normally I hand them the hostels card but no I was impressed too.  Anyway, the traffic was bad and in all fairness I gave him a bit more.

The girls were so pleased to see me again, I thought the older woman was going to squeeze me to death.  So I have a big room upstairs and it's beautiful. I said I'm in the penthouse and they did giggle.  

So shower and leave my washing to be done lol and off to Jenny's for dinner.  Something amazing happened she was so pleased to see me, she hugged and kissed me.  I passed on Daniel's love to her and said the reason why Daniel did not say goodbye is because he will see you again one day, so it's not goodbye.  She did laugh, she really is a sweet soul.  I told her I was hungry as it had been a busy day and tonight I was going to have a pudding - sticky rice, banana, mango and coconut milk - I don't think that is in Slimming World's recommendation lol. I also ordered pad Thai . Well the pud come first, but I did order it first lol only in Thailand so ate that and it was so lovely.  Then my pad Thai - I really must learn to use chopsticks lol.

Then the gorgeous french guy come back ............. With his equally gorgeous American wife 😕.  She was lovely and we swapped tails about Cambodia.  It was good actually as they thought very much as me.  They thought in comparison to Thailand it was expensive and she also thought that some of the guys had issues around women.  She too had thought she looked like an ATM and said that some guy had spat at her when she had said no to dishing out a dollar.  Yes! It's a good job that hadn't happened to me I can tell you.  We agreed that it was a shame that they are building huge five star hotels for the tourists when there really is better things they could be spending their money on.  It was interesting to get another's opinion.  Anyway, she said northern Vietnam is lovely and so us Loas.  So we shall see.

Went to the hotel bar again and had two, yes two, Singapore Sling cocktails and now back in the penthouse as I'm exhausted, it's been a long day.  Oh I didn't tell you lol.  Checked in the hotel snd I was invited to use Bangkok Airways executive lounge. Seriously, I think I'm turning into Dame Judi Dench. So all very lovely don't mind if I do thank you very much. Get on the plane, plane pushes off and I just knew there was something wrong, I could just tell by the noise then the smell of aviation fuel.  It smelt like he had flooded the engine. So we were told that because of a technical fault we are not going anywhere.  Now Bangkok Airways had gone from Primark airline to M&S because of the exec lounge bit and how quick they boarded us.  But now ....... So we all got up and waited.  The steps come, they opened the door to let us out then the captain said oh it's ok now we have fixed it lol.  The crew did not have a clue what was going on.  Babgkok Airways the boutique airline, more like carboot airline.  That plane stunk of aviation fuel too when we had landed.

So here are some more photos now I have wi fi again.  A couple of Daniel then some of the Peace Cafe which I MUST find similar in London.

Oh no one has asked me to buy anything or do I want a tuk tuk lol.

 

Day Eleven - Mrs Anna

Some of you may be looking at the title of today's blog and thinking ...... What?

As a child and as an adult I have always loved the film the King and I and I was fortunate enough to see Url Brymer play the King on stage in London.  For those of you not familiar with the film, a teacher Mrs Anna goes to Thailand to teach the Kings numerous chikdren.  He promises her in return, her own house not in the palace.  But when she gets there he wants her to continue to live in the Royal Palace. She argues and says she is going to leave.  Then she sees the children, the beautiful children and her heart melts.  I am Mrs Anna.  I see the children and my heart melts.  Today I am going to school with Daniel.  Just for the afternoon, three classes. I am so excited I can't tell you. So I'm going to get a tuk tuk to the Mall which I have avoided until now and in going to buy the children something, probably sweets something I never do at home, buy sweets for children.  But this is different.  I. So excited.  

Well what an incredible day.  Firstly, when Daniel told me the name of the school he is teaching in I said to him that I had seen it.  But we decided that I must have though I had as there are so many similar sounding schools in town,  so I shower and put long trousers on and head off for school.  Daniel had told them that I am his auntie. His mother is white british and his father is I Indian.  So thicko here says lets get the story straight am I your mums sister or you dads lol.  I know, I know but you wouldn't have me any other way.

So in the morning I decided I would get the children something, so I head to the mall.  Now this mall is so tiny and obviously only catering for the westerners.    But nestling on he top floor I find a stationery shop, can you believe it. I go in and find to my delight ......... Stickers.  Every child loves a sticker.  Then I go to the supermarket and get some lollipops.  On the way to the mall, I was walking, I see a school and the children are out playing and I'm looking and I'm looking.  I get back to my room and text Daniel and it is his school.  Of course it is.  Out of all the hotels I could have chosen and all the schools Daniel could be working in, he only started last week, I am literally only two minutes walk away.  Am I surprised ...... Not at all.  Like we said, the universe keeps bringing us together.

We met at the mall and had a drink then off to school.  I was so excited, I cannot  you.  Daniel introduced me to the manager of the school as his Aunty and they were so pleased to have me there.  Then off to school.

The first class were so lovely.  When a teacher walks in the room all the children stand up put their hands together and say good afternoon teacher then words to the effect we hope you are well and we are pleased to see you.  Then when teacher says, they sit down.  I mean really, can you imagine that in the UK?  The chikdren raised their hands to speak then stand up to ask or answer the question then sit down.  The first three classes we taught were or various sizes and ability.  The girls wanted to learn, and on the whole took it all seriously. The boys, well they were just boys.  

The first three classes had a lesson that lasted 50 minutes each class.  The chikdren have been studying the ten ASEAN countries.  Can you name them?

Brunei, Philippines, Loas, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Maylasia.

The children have learnt the capital cities of each country and now to say hello and today we were looking at Asean foods.i was introduced as Aunty Karen but a lot of children asked Daniel if I was his wife, lol which we thought was hysterical. So Aunty Karen stood at the front of class while the children asked me questions.

What is your name? Where do you come from? Where do you live?  Now old are you? I loved that one lol I told them I was 21 by using my fingers and they laughed, I don't know why lol. One said I was 41 another 31 lol that will do for me thank you.  I told them I was 29 in my head and every birthday I'm still 29, they laughed and laughed. Then I wrote my real age on the board but told them shhhhhhh their little faces. It was such a magical moment.

They asked me if I had any children. So I told them I have one girl aged 21 who is at university studying to be a scientist - Meg if you ever read this I hope you are as proud of me as I am of you.  

Then they asked me how did I make money lol. I to,d them I worked with very bad boys aged 15/18 that the police had taken away ....... And I tried to help them have a good heart. They understood.

Then the class started.  Daniel is a great teacher, so much energy.  He has taught them the months of the year by dancing to the Macarena lol. I'm never going to be able to forget that.  Then we were dancing to the okie cookie but the chikdren were learning.  Education is expensive here in relation to income.  These children in the first three classes are not from rich families at all.  Daniel said the parents work by having their own businesses, but even then they are not wealthy.

I went around the class asking children questions, reading their work and giving them a sticker lol.

Then when class was over I gave them all a lollipop lol they went mad hugging and squeezing me.  It is because I'm big they wanted to feel me lol.

After the three classes we went into a room to do some photocopying and was talking to an Australian teacher who thought I was a new member of staff then basically offered me a job.  I explained that I have commitments in London but he was doing the hard sell.  I asked him to leave the offer on the table for 12 months which he said he would do.  I seriously think I could do this.

We went for a drink and Mrs Anna was giving out lollipops to the children I was like the child catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang lol. Nthen back for 5:30 class which is for the really poor children.  You will see I the photos that they have no uniform.  There was so many of them and I felt bad as there was not enough stickers or lollipops.  This was a very quiet class but some of the children had excellent English.  A great deal of the Cambodian population are not educated, they are a very poor country so for these children to be in a class room is a huge thing.  All the children's manners were impeccable they were very polite. When Daniel was saying about my age he was saying that as I was so old - I did tell him to watch it lol - we can learn from me and this is part of their culture. Older people are seen as knowledgeable.

I cannot tell you how much joyntodaybhas given me, I ready cannot.  We have a gift the the rest of the world want ........ english.  The children want to learn and that alone is priceless.

Daniel and I walked back to my hotel, two minutes, and ate at the restaurant opposite, really good food.  Then it was time to go.  We both don't do good byes why should we, we both know that if it is meant to be the universe will bring us back together again.  So until next time Daniel my dear sweet friend x

Oh I forgot to mention as I walked into the hotel one of GG hench men lol says to me you know him? Meaning Daniel. I replied pardon he says again you know him? My respose .......... No!

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Day Ten - Temples, Tomb Raider and just call me Angelina!

So last night I put the tv on and got some Australian channel and you won't believe it, they were showing a drama programme set in the 1950s about a family doctor who is a detective lol.  This is going somewhere I promise.  So it was playing in the background and I'm thinking, this is sounding familiar then I come in I saw it on TV when I was in Australia lol.  Can you believe if? I worked out who done it before they done it lol.  I have to ask is there just one TV programme continually being played on TV in Australia lol.  Jackie, please do some research as you are nearest lol.

So I have just had breakfast and sifting I the lobby come breakfast area come every bloody thing.  GG is on the peripheral keeping a watch.  He has A bloodshot eyes for the women that one and has just been put right in his place by an assertive Australian woman who was not having any of his charm lol.

So it's Sunday, I had to check to be honest so Sunday's when I'm away normally mean a great day.  Let's see shall we?

Well I wasn't disappointed.  Tuk tuk driver, whose name was Vandy turned up and kept calling me Kevin, I mean lol Kevin and Mandy and a tuk tuk lol.  But he was pleasant enough.  First temple up to the magnificent Ankor Wat again,  just as we get there the tuk tuk cuts out! What is it with me.  Ankor Wat is truly magical, apart from us tourists.  But I found a little nook and cranny that was peaceful and I sat there just soaking up the atmosphere.  I decided that I would meditate and so I did.  However, I don't know 15 minutes in to it I hear a shrill of ma'am are you ok, are you are ok ma'am, ma'am. Obviously, being mindful and quiet is not allowed.  I opened my eyes to be greeted by a very stern looking woman (American). I explained to her that I was fine, thank you.  It was a shame as it was such a peaceful moment, but I guess she thought I was dead.

Back to Mandy with the tuk tuk working, it had run out of petrol.  This is such a poor country and everything is buy it when you need it. Then we went round all of the temples.  I cannot tell you how many but each had a beauty in its own right.  I can't imagine how they built these wonderful pieces of art.  The carvings alone on them are breathtaking.

I can't wait to play Tomb Raider on Andy's Xbox when I get to London lol.  I even saw the baboons lol. Ankor is an amazing place where you step back in time.  But again the poverty is there.  Everywhere, and I mean everywhere you go chikdren approaching you asking you to buy.  I swear the first words they learn is $1! It's terribly sad but you just have to deal with it as difficulty as it is.  But I think I'm ready to visit India now.  We really do live in a mixed up crazy world where some have so much and others have hardly thing.  I don't know what the answer is, I just know it is it right.  

Met. Daniel at the Peace Cafe again, oh how I love that place.  I could just go and live there.  So peaceful, my sort of people.  Sheer bliss.

I need to find something like this in London.  So by eight pm I was almost falling a sleep.  My Fitbit said I had walked 7.5 miles yesterday so I said night to Daniel and got a tuk tuk who tried to rio me off for $3 he got $2 lol.  I was sound asleep by 9:00 but it has been a lovely day.