Here is the latest instalment of Andy Sangster's around the world cycling tour in aid of the NSPCC. Here we catch up with him from July 6 to July 20.
Please donate to his just giving page for the NSPCC at www.justgiving.com/andysangster1July 6
I've been visiting as many Buddhist temples as I can manage. They are all very impressive and all very different.
I changed the tyres round as the back one is wearing faster than the front. This should see me through to the finish with a bit of luck. Of course I couldn't have managed it on my own.July 8
Been staying with the Akha people in the mountains near Chiang Rai. What an amazing experience and such generous people. Had an amazing feast as well as a good tour around.
The feast just kept being topped up as we ate. Had to give up on the chop sticks though and used my fingers. It consisted of minced pork, rice broth with meat in, cabbage in the centre, some other green veg which was a bit spicy, water melon, pineapple and sticky rice on the floor.July 9
I saw a sign that said the highest hot spring in Thailand. So what do you do you test the water. I reckon it was 80 degrees as I ripped my hand away and pretended it didn't burn.July 10
Making my way through Laos from North to South. I'm currently in a town called Luang Prabang on the Mekong river. It has got a strong French influence in the buildings and food. Also has 33 Buddhist temples!July 12
Well I was debating whether or not to set off yesterday morning as it was raining quite heavy. I had to ride 130km to the only guest house in the village. Well 110km out of 130km were uphill. Coupled with the rain it contrived to make it the hardest days cycling I've ever had. I climbed 3,000 metres in total. It was getting dark when I finished so I was panicking about getting somewhere to sleep. Highlight of the day was when I took some shelter from the rain some kids joined me the 'falang' (foreigner). I taught them to count to ten with the help of a breeze block wall and a stone to write with.July 13
Made my way south to the capital of Laos Vientiane. Very French like some of the other towns here. I was going to stay for two nights but it's very expensive in relation to the rest of Laos so I think I'll be moving on. I plan on making my way south to the Cambodia border over the next week which should give me a bit of time there before I have to head off to Phuket to meet the wife.July 14
The main highway from Luang Prabang to Vientiane is just a single carriageway. But there are only five million people living here and a car is a luxury item so the roads in general are very quiet, but still a bit wet.July 16
I saw a long boat being built in Nakhon Phanom. It was over 10m long and made of one big chunk of hardwood. Hollowed out and shaped by hand by skilled craftsmen.
Sadly after nearly 9, 000km one of my concept 2 water bottles has sprung a leak and been binned. Maybe if they are reading this they could get me a replacement?July 19
Wear your pyjamas to work day in Cambodia. Spent my first night in Cambodia after some fun at the border. I had spent the previous night on a small island with basic amenities. So the lonely planet guide says you must pay your visa in USA dollars. I planned to get some at one of the exchange places that have been at every border so far. Sadly there was none and the kind border guard helped me out after I paid 2000 kip to leave Laos. Strange amount its less than 20 pence.
Imagine my rage when I went to the visa on arrivals desk and was told I could pay in Thai Laos or USA. Never mind I only lost out on 4 dollars. The hotels and food are the cheapest in the area and nice choice too.July 21
I travelled to the Choeung Ek memorial outside Pnom Penn Cambodia. It is shocking what happened here in the 70s.The skulls of 8,000 of the 17,000 prisoners executed here for various reasons are displayed in the memorial. Bhudists, women, children, intellects, non-communists etc.
It's one of 300 killing fields throughout Cambodia. It's estimated that 20% of the population died at the hands of the Pol Pot regime.
