bangkok !!!!

This place is soooooo hot !!! Staying in an awsome place in the middle of the backbacker scene that has a pool. We are thrashing it. Kids think it's hilarious that all the travellers leave as soon as we appear. They have seen the competitons that go on - best bombs,handstands ,tag etc. 3 days of Bangkok life. Have explored some fantastic sights using the local boats and tuk tuk's (definately a favourite). Learnt about the Buddhist culture,how to barter for a good rate and not gag when walking through the local markets !!! The smells are really bad (Max's says esp the dried fish ones- I had to run through blocking my nose).
Marty and I are constantly entertained with the comments from the kids. Max is finding it the hardest to cope and last night told us he had had enough of seeing things and is ready to go home!!!! He has no idea whats in store for him.
The night time is the best time here. We go and hang out in the street next to us(Khoasan rd) and eat delicious pancakes,stirfries,corn on the cob and fruit all the time being entertained by the locals. They love seeing a family and we have plenty of comments about the size!!! We have all been crashing early-not even noticing the karoke that goes on down below us on the street and are the first ones eating breakfast which is awesome as end up at all the sights with out the bus loads of punters.
This has been a great place to hang out and adjust to travelling life. We are all commenting about the lack of routine!!!! I am loving that.


Max,marty and Ben while zipping through the streets



Tom and Ben and an Anaconda

 Tomorrow we will hopefully spy Everest.
We are relly missing everyone !!!!!

Georgie,Becs and Tom with our Tuk Tuk driver 

Farewells

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                                            We had no idea how traumatic the farewells were going to be.  Saying good bye to Oli and Jazz set us all off and the tears were still flowing when we farewelled mum and dad at the airport.

4 months seems a long time !!!



Tom and Ben egged on by two lovely friends - Nikki and Prue (who actually did the deed) shaved all their hair off the night before we left. No more curls or blond hair !!!! Marty and I were screaming.



Georgie was right - It was so exciting to sit down and watch a good chick flick with a brandy in my hand on the plane. Tom won the record with 6 movies. The kids were awsome - No one fell asleep so some tired bodies by the time we hit Khao san Road.
We could not believe the heat that hit us as we stepped off the plane.
A fast taxi ride in that had everyone on the edge of there seats. No speed limits ond few road rules.

We lept out of the taxi into the mayhem of Bangkok night life and hardly heard the karoke that played for most of the night below us.



The Dobbe's heading into the unknown



The count down is on.

We have spent the last few weeks writing lists and more lists and they are finally getting smaller !!!
We are all so excited  and nervous about what we are venturing into.

Georgie baking with her new pack

We can not wait to spend FOUR months together especially in countries that will need us all to rely on us all in different ways. There is a lot of chat in the house and questions about all sorts of things. This morning we ate breakfast and Georgie mixed up the water purifing stuff in her drink bottle for us all to taste.

Chaos in the house

Packed our bags last weekend.Three hours of "mum where's my socks?", "Dad do I need this?" as well as rugby balls wizzing through the air and constant play fights on the couch. The test will come when we have all the extra goodies that seem to get put in at the last minute.

What shall we take ???

This is our last week of school and work for us all. The count down is definately on.

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We will so miss our family,friends and of course our cute pets!Jazz my cat is staying at our house and oli is going to some lovley friends. We will really miss them!!Georgia