More news from Jeni

Dear All

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and new year and hat you are not all too wet and cold. Just an update and apologies to those of you who already know some of it. No photos I have run out of memory on my ipad!

Have arrived at kamalaya wellness clinic on koh samui. My villa overlooks the sea, I have an outside bathroom and the place is perfect,peaceful and calm. I started my detox this morning, lots of veg for breakfast, a lot of supplements and wheat grass and some brain food!

I spent Christmas Day in Vientiane the capital of Laos, more temples and lots of war stuff, including the Americans secret cluster bombing, which they are still trying to find and defuse. Then on to Luang Prabang, my favourite place. It was very real and they really aren't interested in the tourists and making money, but they are happy that you are there. Lots of monks, watched them take alms outside my hotel bedroom door, spoke to one through my guide, 7 years as a monk and thinks he would like to leave to get married! Watched them at prayer which was very spiritual. Released two birds for good luck off the top of a temple, saw the moon bears, who were fab and the most amazing waterfall. Ate at a roadside cafe, watched a woman cooking a rat for her dinner and learnt how to spin cotton grown in the field
Then on to the shampoo boat for two long and very cold days on the Mekong river with a night in the most wonderful wooden stilted lodges on the river bank, a couple of stops to see a Buddha cave, a village where they make whiskey out of the sticky rice and one where they live in bamboo houses.

Transferred into North Thailand which I did not like! the golden triangle was a disappointment, as were the other few bits the tour guide took me to. Thankfully only there for one complete day. Moved south to chaing Mai and spent new year in a hotel with six guest houses and a pool in the middle of nowhere, which was wonderful and the most amazing visit to the elephant safari. I fed them bananas and palm sugar, watched them painting, playing football and lots more. Rode one and a buffalo cart and river rafting. It was of course aimed at the tourists, but still it was wonderful.

Tour over and another flight to Bangkok, which is madness, millions of people, cars scooters and tuk-tuks. Saw the Emerald Buddha, the palace, wat pho which houses the largest reclining Buddha. Went to china town which is an experience in itself, got lost in the maze of alleyways and bought nothing because it was all tat ! Went on the river taxis and the sky train, did a bit of shopping, it's so cheap I had to!

Finally went to the tiger temple, where the monks look after 120 tigers , most of them that they have bred. It was an early start 4.30am pick up, a stop at the bridge over the river kwong, which has an atmosphere about it that I cannot describe. A train went over it while I was there and I have a lovely photo of a monk stood on the track taking his own photo- I asked the guide about the camera because they shouldn't have any material trappings- her reply was that he was a tourist monk! The tigers were fantastic, I was near to tears through the whole experience. I fed an 8 month old with a bottle of milk, cuddled a 4 week old one , bathed one, fed them chicken, walked a huge one on a lead - he walked me! Played with them  and had a huge one with his head in my lap, they have the most enormous teeth!  One of those experiences you will never forget and some amazing photographs to bore you all with.

Just to balance out all the fab times and to counteract Junes green envy, there has been a lot of traveling and many different hotels! which disorientates me! some of the hotels have been really bad! particularly the one in chaing rai with no hot water. The food has not agreed with me, far too spicy, they cook in something that makes me swell like a puffer fish! I have met some lovely people but have also been lonely, the Japanese tourists are seriously annoying, I brought the wrong clothes for the tour, frozen on the river, sweltered in Bangkok, got a lot of things wrong and had to be very brave to do some things . I have also learnt an awful lot about me.

I am definately going back to Laos and have added Myanmar to my list as well.

Lots of love to you all

Jeni xxx