Apologies for the break in transmission (by Joe)

This may sound like 'dog ate homework' but we've had real internet problems recently due to an earthquake near Taiwan damaging one of the major telecoms cables connecting SE Asia with the rest of the world (see Vientaine Times' take - top).

To summarise - since the last time: we enjoyed Laos over Christmas and New Year (Vang Vieng a limestone valley in central Laos where we spent Christmas is stunning; Laos' capital Vientiane is unremarkable; and the 4000 islands on the Mekong in the south of Laos are just fantastic). We then traveled across the southern border into Cambodia and are now in Phnom Penh (a wonderfully raw, 'lawless' city).

We are heading over to the temples at Angkor (West Cambodia) tomorrow with a big backlog of blogs and pictures to post from experiences in Laos.

'We sincerely hope that normal service will resume soon ...'

Joe