There's no place like home...

Well we are finally back in our house after 6 months and I have to say feeling a bit unsettled, which I guess is only natural. We really enjoyed our trip to SE Asia. It had its highs and lows and at times was difficult but when you look back all the bad parts just fade away.It did make us appreciate the easy life we have living in Australia.

One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to The Patara Elephant farm near Chiang Mai ,Thailand. The farm is family owned and they are doing a wonderful job of caring for the elephants. They rescue them from circuses, logging and poaching. We were elephant owners for the day which meant doing their health check, cleaning and washing them, feeding them and taking them for a walk in the jungle. It was very scary perching on top of the elephant and excruciatingly painful on the inner thighs!! Giving Nui a brush before her wash

Not looking very comfortable!

Another highlight was our 5 day motorbike ride through the Central Highlands of Vietnam. I was a bit worried about spending 5 days on the back of a bike but our guides were great. They took us to all sorts of places we wouldn't have seen if we were on our own. And it felt a lot safer than being in a bus. The bus drivers are crazy - they overtake cars and bikes that are already overtaking vehicles. And the fact that there is a truck coming towards you doesn't seem to bother them. It was scary stuff!!

Setting off from Dalat to Hoi An

At the end of our trip we went to Sapa in the far north of Vietnam. We did a two day trek through the terraced hillsides .We were accompanied by heaps of hilltribe women and children who at the end of the walk wouldn't leave us alone until we bought something.They are really lovely friendly people.

This woman from the Red Dao tribe was sewing as she walked along.

Climbing down the terraces - it was muddy and slippery.It was also very cold and misty.