In Thailand

We've just spent two days in Thailand at the beach.  So far Thailand has been super relaxing and easy travel.  Lots of facilities and services for travellers.  No snokelling so far but we were able to see active sand dollars which I have never seen so far as well as a 2 ft wide jellyfish off the boat.  Headed to Bangkok for Chinese new year today.  We're staying in chinatown for the next two nights if we can find then hotel.  Our last week in Cambodia was very interesting.  Since we wanted to see the forest we were off the beaten tourist track staying in places with little infrastucture for tourists.  Our camping skills came in handy....  Our last hike thru the woods we took a local guide who later found out was a high school student who lived out of town.  Our hike ended when he asked us which way we thought he should go.  Bad enough to get lost but there are still landmines in Cambodia.  Paul ended up with 8 leech bites and it was time to go.  So far Paul has had the most interesting ride so far with him and two other guys (one with a machine gun) on a motorcycle.  All in all, though, Cambodia is trying hard to pull themselves out of poverty and be a tourist destination.  Everyone is an entrepreneur and it seems all kids and about a third of adults are trying to learn English.  Looking at the history of Cambodia, they've come far.  I think in another 5-10 years Cambodia will be much changed again. They're trying harder than any place we've visited. Here's a few more pics- an interesting tree at the palace, giant centipede snacks being sold at the bus station, Dennis and Paul playing snooker near Angkor (neither will be champ anytime soon), the Mekong River at sunset.  ~ Jen