Goodbye Thai

I have been so lazy with this blog.. To be honest I guess like anything I do, I start with good intentions & it eventually falls behind. Yet I really have no priorities while traveling. 


My month in Chiang Mai really flew. I had a very lovely and inspiring time working with the young children at the single mother's home. It was a very enriching place to be- to see a successful organisation that was started from scratch, that is environmentally as well as socially just, was so uplifting. Going there each day was a pleasure. Although admittedly there were days when the children were incredibly challenging and loved to push me. Language barriers could get in the way but they knew from the tone of my voice when I meant business. They were ultimately gorgeous kids who loved warmth & attention like any other children. We had a lot of fun together. I would easily have stayed longer & think that would have been the best way to get the most out of the organisation. It's such a community that it's not the right place to just waltz in & waltz out again.

I don't think I will ever do volunteer service through an organisation that links me to the volunteer work. It was confirmed that none of the money we paid went to the actually place we volunteered for. This is insane. For the price, especially in comparison to the cost of living in Thailand, and the accommodation (especially it's location), the fact we had to pay our own transport daily,is really disappointing. I feared this would be the case but I had limited time to organise this for myself prior to coming. And to be honest I wasn't sure about the whole process, how easy it would be. Now I know. I now understand why the name of the place I volunteered at isn't actually written at all on the organisation's website. I guess so you can't google it, find their website and realise you can go straight to them, rather than pay far too much money to a third party. I feel I would have had a more genuine experience without the organisation. Plus the attitudes of most of the travelers/volunteers in the house were deplorable. A gossipy, clingy group of late teens who thought they were still in high school and that there was a hierarchy to the volunteer house. Oh how they sucked. Definitely a dampener. Glad expecting to meet some awesome people was not what I was in Chiang Mai for. Sure, I did meet some great people. Just still have a bee in my bonnet over the incredulous behaviour of the youngsters there. 


I'd recommend Chiang Mai. Northern Thailand is great. The city itself is rather quaint, not so chaotic, pretty orderly in fact. I'd definitely encourage a trip during Songkran. I was so enthralled with this festival. It was great! 

Hill tribe dress.

So I flew into Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Saturday. 


I have had some nasty gastro since Thursday, it totally wipes me out. Unfortunately I'm spending longer than I wanted to here in Phnom Penh has I can't handle getting on a bus to Siem Reap right now. I haven't seen much of Phnom Penh either, other than the taxi from the airport & a short walk yesterday. It seems chaotic. I really want to explore it but I will be back on the outward journey from Cambodia.


I finally sought a doctor last night. It was easier than I thought. I got a bunch of french medication and it has helped me feel a bit better. Though not entirely. I'm hoping yesterday was the peak of it. Pretty tired. Spending too much money for Cambodia in this accommodation but it will make me feel better than a hostel dorm and shared bathroom.


Flying into Cambodia was interesting. I haven't seen such arid looking country since I left Australia. I'm excited to explore this country, even though it will only be an eleven day journey- if I'm well enough to set off tomorrow for Siem Reap.