Hi all,

tried to send a blog on Sunday but we timed out at the internet cafe just before sending, so we both lost our blog entries!

Anway, travelled up to Chiang Mai last night by bus - VERY COLD and broken seats, but managed the odd doze. You really know you're travelling somewhere quite different when you stop at midnight at a roadside cafe and have to guess what to do (and also what kind of soup it is you're eating!).

We're staying at a backpackers hotel tonight, then off in the morning for our two day treck into the jungle, with rafting, elephant ride and probably the odd mozzie or three for company. The day after that we have an early start off to Chiang Rai to visit the Karen tribe (long-necked people who wear many rings to "stretch" it).

The only other people we've seen at our accomm so far look about 21, so we're trying not to feel too old, and actually think we're doing quite well given extensive lack of sleep so far (only one good night!).

My foot/leg's loads better now after an incredibly painful and frustrating time until only y'day, when penny made me rest by the pool and do nothing....she's such a good nurse (and lovely with it)! For those of you who do, please pray that my leg/foot will be fine for our treks over the next few days and be totally well for the rsat of our travels.

Weather here is beautiful - considering we're told that it's winter, and quite a cold one at that, I dread to think what it's like in the height of summer!! It's blue, sunny and very warm, so that'll do nicely as far as we're concerned.

Well, time to go and wander a bit more on this lovely Tuesday afternoon... I can still taste the beautiful chicken green curry and sticky rice that we had for lunch by the river....still can't quite believe I'm here, but I'm definitely starting to relax into it a bit now.

Do send your comments / e.mails and let me know what's going on back in the "other" world, I'd love to hear from you.

With love. Bye for now,

Linda xxx