Spring in Melbourne

Sunshine, jasmine blooming on the neighbours fence, blue skies and the lack of stockings and thick scarves heralds the beginning of spring in Melbourne. Opening all the windows to let the warm breeze permeate through the house after too many months of winter. I am looking forward to summer in Melbourne, expressly after two winters in a row, warm nights riding my bike through the back streets of Brunswick and Fitzroy and that wonderful early morning smell that signals the heat approaching.

Travels to Cambodia -notes:

13th Aug - Sitting in Perth botanical gardens with Ru. Drinking strawberry tea watching the rain come in over the city. Sun, rain, sun, rain, sun.

14th Aug - Saigon, steam bun, mushroom and spices. Big city, noise, fumes from carn motorbikes making everything hot. There are no longer swarms of bicycles, the roads are covered with motorbikes. The country has become richer and people have traded their bikes for motorbikes. Our room is clean and cool. Almost on the top of a 6 story building. We climb up the narrow tiled stairs and turn to ascend the last few wobbly steal steps to our hidden room. The window opens, it is raining and the breeze is cool. The land lady told us a story about her love life, her boyfriend will not marry her. There are 14 hook on the wall. Banana chips.

15th Aug - Bread and coffee for breakfast. Temples. Ru and I talk non stop on the bus. Tunnels. Steam bun for dinner, washing hangs on the window to dry.

16th Aug - Bread, cheese, coffee. Watchign the large blocks of ice being hacked into smaller pieces with large dagger looking combs. They took our passports on the floating hotel.

17th Aug - Cambodian border waiting for visa. American couple taught us how to play hearts on top of the boat travelling up the Mekong Delta. A young American man was told her could not get a visa into Cambodia as he had run out of pages. $50US and a smile and he is on the boat to Cambodia

Sui S-dey - Hello

Aw Koon - Thank you

Ley Soon Hi - Good Bye

Aroon Suo S'dey - good morning

Re Trey Sou S-dey - good night

Two new books adorn my bedside table, travel guides to 'Nepal' and 'Bhutan.' Onwards to adventure!