I am hoping to contact the woman (I met on the bus ) who runs an orphanage for abandoned and orphaned children from Thailand, Burma, Laos and Cambodia. I am sure with the help of friends and family that we can do something worthwhile for her children Anyhow shall keep you posted on that.

I have two very reliable contacts now in Thailand, so feel confident that anything we do will get through to the right people!! More later.

If anyone would like to volunteer to help out in the school I went to in Mae Ai, I would be more than happy to recommend it and give them contacts without going through a volunteer agency. Much easier and financially cheaper for the individuals.

My hearfelt thanks must go to Nivea Vitality Project, New Idea, OMD Advertising, Yahoo 7 staff, and Channel 7 for giving me the opportunity to have this amazing experience in Thailand. Their support was fantastic, I cannot thank each and everyone of you enough!

After this special presentaion by the children, I was showered with gifts and cards from nearly every child from the school. I was quite overwhelmed by it all. Children were crying and asking me to come back because they loved me. Their English did improve and I think I have made a small contribution to this school. Unfortunately it could do with a lot more help. There is a unit ready for a couple or single person to help at the school! It has been a worthwhile experience.

Hopefully my hotel room is ready now, and I can have a quick sleep before catching up with everyone tonight at dinner.

Yesterday, years 4, 5, 6, went to Mae Fang National Park and hot springs for English Camp. A great day was had by all and I must say the eggs I boiled in the hot springs were delicious!! The classes were divided into groups and went from one station to the next doing different things that involved them practising English. Much copying by all to get the right answers!!

I counted 36 children squeezed into a "bus". These are little more than a ute with a top on. All equipment is then piled on top of them, which they think is great fun!! Motor bike riders are supposed to wear helmuts, but not many people use them. Sometimes you will see a driver with one perched on his head (not done up of course) and the other three people (including children ) not wearing any protection. The mind shudders!

Must away and hand out the prizes for the year 6 drawing contest. Ciao for now.

I had 11 hours sleep last night in a proper, soft bed!! Bliss. Making full use of the hotel"s facilities I had many full blast, hot showers, western food, bacon and eggs for brekky, and aa TV with some English channels. Sheer heaven. It is awfully hot here and last at a night market I wondered what every one was staring at. Unfortunately I had mopped my dripping face with the handy toilet paper one uses for everything, and left bits all over my face!! Only noticed this when I tried some glasses on!!

Unfortunately I am covered in a prickly heat rash, my legs look terrible and I have had to cover the areas with special white powder. Not a pretty sight when the perspiration runs down the legs. I'm looking forward to the cooler region of Mae Ai so that I can recover!!!

Have to go to the bus station soon, so had better go and get some nibbles to eat for the trip back.

Well I must go for my morning walk and pay my washing lady. I shall certainly miss that when I go home! Each morning the local men and women call out to me "where you going?" and when I tell them "for a walk" they all laugh!! Not sure that they understand, I must be another crazy foreigner (farang) to them.

I caught the "yellow" bus into Fang ( which is a ute with a cover on it) to buy some suitable drawing paper for the children's competition. The bus is always stopped halfway into Fang and the guards, with rifles and guns, check out everyone's ID. They don't even look at me!!! To get off you push the buzzer and go around to the front window and pay the driver. No one shirks the system. It takes half and hour to get from Mae Ai to Farang and this costs me the princely sum of about 35 cents!!!

Whilst waiting for a bus to come back to Mae Ai (red one this time), a motor scooter with 2 girls on it crashed in front of me. Everyone just watches as they pick themselves up, dust themselves off, have a quick yabber to each other, pick up the bike and off they go. Life goes on in Thailand!! Still no photos, sorry everyone. Maybe over the weekend in Bangkok!!

With grades 2 and 3 we spend more time on making words, eg look, cook, book. etc. They are quick to write down the words but have no understanding of the meanings of each word. I look as tho I am playing charades trying to act out the words. With only one teacher speaking a small amount of English it can get quite hard at times. I am slowly learning a few words in Thai. No swear words .

I am going down to Bangkok on Friday night on the 14 hour bus. for some much needed R&R. plus some retail therapy. A hot shower will be good and a sleep in a real bed will be fabulous!!

I spent quite a long time preparing for today's class, and even tho they wrote down that Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and repeated after me, they still could not tell me "What is the capital of Thailand" I can only hope that some of what I am teaching them is sinking in and that they will eventually understand. I guess with any sort of teaching you get children that just "get it" straight away. I seem to have several bright children in every class. They love drawing, coloring in and playing games!!

I have decided to go down to Bangkok on the overnight bus for some R&R, also some retail therapy. I also would like to give each child and teacher a gift when I leave so I am hoping to spot something in the market!!

Well, I must go and prepare for tomorrows classes. Take care everyone.