last look at the Phnom Penh sky line....

Wat Langka from the third floor of our hotel

The top of the Independence Monument through the trees..

And good buy to Cambodia....

and hello Thailand......

Zoe & her new friends

Got lots of great products for the shop direct from the villages.

Bangkok Traffic..crazy.

This poor little dog as in a cage at Chatuchak Market...not good.

Zoe having a Thai foot massage

An outfit for the above mentioned dog....

The fake flower isle at Chatuchak.

Back to Phnom Penh..

Zoe noted the other day that the way traffic works in Cambodia is that the bigger your vehicle the more right of way you have. The exception to this rule are the cows.

They rule the road.

This one was just cruising along the road as we made our way to the bus stop for the long trip back to Phnom Penh.

It was a long trip back - so I took a few pictures along the way

Some bright purple flowers at our lunch stop.

Monks collecting morning Alms

A typical Khmer house along national highway 4

3 small kids walking along the highway on the way to school

cows on the highway....

Entering the capital....more traffic and activity

Our first night in PP we stayed in the Goldiana hotel

This was the view from our room.

Today we headed off to the central market. hot and hassled!

There are glimpses of the old city that would have been beautiful

I visited one of my new suppliers today.

This is the team that create all the beautiful waterlily products.

I think you'll like them!

We went and had some pre dinner drinks (diet coke!) on the rooftop of The Quay hotel.

Lovely views of the Ton-sap & Mekong Rivers

A long bus trip...

Yesterday we went from Phnom Penh to Sihanouk Ville on the Mekong Express Bus.

We got the last 2 tickets - back row. It was never going to be a good trip. After a 5+ hour tip we arrived in Sihanouk Ville and got a tuk tuk to our hotel. They moved the bus stop to the other end of town....so we got there eventually.

We then meet up with Peter - who had arrived a few hours before us after a hair-raising taxi for the 4 - 5 hour trip ($40)

Z & I were both pretty stuffed. Went and had a quick bit to eat....

We have been throwing up ever since! Would like any advise at this point on Cambodian Belly!

I just ate my first bit of food for 24 hours - cornflakes & milk that I purchased at the Orange Mart down town.

Here are a few pictures I took yesterday during our travels

Fast Food Khmer style

A full load setting off from the market

At least they both are wearing helmets

One of the small towns on the way....no idea of rubbish collection

Need a dentist? take a close look at the blue sign!

It's shift finish at one of the many clothing factories along the way. All the workers seem to be women. There were lots of similar factories along the way

The half way point in the trip - a chance to take in the view and give Alms to the gods

So giggling girls posing for my camers

These children were playing music for the passing travellers - it was quite beautiful.

A trip away....

I am taking a little trip to Thailand and Cambodia to source new products for my shop.

There are some amazing sites to see - over the next few weeks I will share them!

Colostrum Tablets found in Bangkok airport?

The first garbage truck I've ever seen in Cambodia......

not sure where it all ends up?

My sister-in-law has unusual taste in snacks. Yesterday while sitting having a afternoon beer we went for a small walk to 'get some of the ants out of my nephews pant'. She spied these fried frogs - and quickly snapped up a 6 for her & the kids!

I asked her what they tasted like.......chicken!

For Angela

1200......That's how many photos I took while I was away. Most of them aren't that great. Just a reminder of my travels. I am in the process of unloading them onto flickr. You can look at them here, if your got a couple of hours!

It is a bit scary getting back to real life. 166 emails & 25 phone messages to sort through (and I have not even been to work yet)

I have come to realise that home is pretty important....more particular the people around me. I was quite homesick towards the end of my trip.

I managed to pack a fair bit into my 18 days. There were some highlights though.

Catching up with Meg (and Amelia) in Bangkok.

She brought along her beautiful Babbette blanket that she has been making for Jules!

It is inspiring stuff.....well done.

The place I'd like to go back to...

Luang Prabang.

It was tranquil, calm, clean, friendly.

Below is a photo I took of a young monk adjusting his robes while collecting alms of rice in the early morning.

This photo was taken near the local market just our of the main part of town.

Peters Place

This is the beautiful Anita (with her new blanket) She is a very happy baby who spends lots of time swinging in her hammock.



You may think this looks like 'Starbucks'.....same same....but different. This is 'The Terrace'. It has half decent coffee - and wireless Internet. It's only taken me 6 days to discover this!
Nothing happens fast around here.

Yesterday we went to the Central Market. Anie, Ma, Par, Pundit, Mickey and myself.
It was hot, Mickey cried 80% of the time and Anie is a major bargain hunter. She will not buy anything for more 55% off the original price (which to me was pretty cheap to start with)

We stopped for a bit to eat - couldn't tell you what it was. Looked like jellyfish with worms sitting in coconut milk then topped with shaved ice. Yum! I declined this little treat, buy everyone else got stuck in!



On the way out there was a quick snack stop. They look like cockroaches to me - who knows. You do have to take the legs off because they have little barbs on them.
Again everyone (but me) got stuck in to theses little treats.



This is a photo at Peter's House. Anita with Anie, Peter at the back and Anie's mum Ma to the right

Back in Cambodia....

I am now in Cambodia! Staying with my brother - Peter and his family. At last count this was about 9 people. They are now living in a very nice house in sort of a compound - as there if a few guards at the front gate to get in. It means that it is really safe for the kids.....particularly as where they are only their immediate neighbours drive past. So the street is a bit of a playground. This is especially true at 'Happy Hour' when all the kids from the area get on their bikes and scooters and ride up and down the street before dinner.
I am still having a few issues downloading photos - so stay tuned.
I gave Anita the blanket I crocheted for her, and a little babushka doll. It was well received by all.
A picture tells a thousand words so - will let them do the talking

My next project???

Miriam from my crochet class showed us this great rug. I love the colours and the design.

I also love this little pic!
The both came from this mag!

I am definitely not one to write a lot on my blog. Don't panic...not going to start now! However I am about to go to South East Asia on Monday and I wanted to let you know that I will be travelling. I hope to post while away - but you never know what will happen with Internet availability.

Anyway here is my trip in a few sentences...

Pop to Bangkok for a quick shop with Meg,

Then off to Luang Prabang.

Next stop Angkor Wat, then off to visit my new niece in Cambodia.

To top it all off - at bit of shopping in Hong Kong on the way home!

See you when I get back -

You can help theses kids....

Some of you may know I have a brother living in Cambodia with his growing family. I can across this organisation and would like to let everyone know they are having a fundraiser in Melbourne.
These kids have a pretty hard life - selling 'trinkets' on the beach in Sihanoukville instead of going to school. CCPP give the kids the opportunity to earn money for their family in a safe way, and get an education at the same time.
If you need incentive check out this Video ......there is also a link to this on my side bar