28 is gonna be great!

---

A birthday to remember! We spent the morning pampering ourselves with desperately needed pedicures and foot scrubs. It was a real girly day and we loved every minute of it. Then it was off to Blue Pumpkin where the girls treated me to Blueberry Birthday Cheesecake. We shopped until it was time for our Khmer cooking class. This was a real highlight and we made a feast fit for at least 20 people! On the menu were fresh and fried spring rolls, tom yam soup, fresh mango salad, fish amok and mango sticky rice (my new favourite dessert). We retreated to the air conditioning with full bellys for a nanna nap before hitting the town for drinks and this is where the decline begins....

WARNING - The next paragraph should not be read if you are in any of these categories: grandparents, parents, parents of students I teach, an alcoholic etc. I urge you to use your descretion!

The first drink of the night was actually a dessert, since we had eaten a feast only a few hours ago and it was my birthday i figured it was perfectly acceptable to begin with a dessert. Lemon sorbert with vodka served in a martini glass. Simply devine. Next... we headed to the Temple Bar where pitchers are the in thing so we were drinking cocktails from 1 litre containers. After a few of those delectable but dangerous concoctions we stumbled/ strolled to the night market where the centre piece of the market is a bar. After a $3 lychee martini I forgot myself and decided my dancing skills were good enough to showcase...on top of a eski in the middle of the bar. OOPS. The night continued in similar fashion. The morning came around much, much to quickly.

Yes, to no-one's surprise I was violently ill the next day but who is there to blame but myself? With a stiff upper lip i bravely boarded the bus for the 6 hour journey home. Without going into detail it was the worst drive of my life and has taught me a valuable lesson.

Back in PP I slowly returned to my more dignified self and by this morning happily taught today. That's not to say that I am very happy that tomorrow is Friday so I can rest and recover! There you have it folks. 28 is gonna be great... as long as i stay far, far, far away from booze. xxx

---

Photos

Picture perfect
Early morning at Angkor Wat

Monks and Nuns
Prayer time at Angkor

Head Shaving
A rare and precious moment captured. I love this photo but it was really cool to see.

Feet Frenzy
Much needed attention was given to our grubby footsicles.

Sensible Sticker
Nothing more needs to be said

Birthday Cake
The girls treat me to Blueberry birthday Cheesecake at Blue Pumpkin Bakery.

Khmer cooking class
We do look the part in these aprons and hats don't you think?

Great Grating
I knew my talents would be put to good use in this class!!!

Feast
The menu: spring rolls, mango salad, Tom Yum soup, Fish Amok, Mango Sticky Rice. Chanang! (Delicious)

Cocktails
Abi and I drink from our pitcher at the Temple Bar.

Group Photo
Drinks at the Temple Bar.... before things went haywire.

MIA Shop
This one is for you sisso

Comments

[Lisa]

28, great? I can't wait!
ha ha ha ha! you make me laugh! that sounds like a fabulous night, lychee martinis and dancin on eski's! really who could ask for more! lisa xx

[Marian]

Hi
Hi Chloe, glad all is going well...sounds like too much fun is being had!! Keep up the blog and more photos please. Glad yo had a great birthday...minus the sickness!! Marian

[brenda]

Huffing and puffing all weekend
Hello mummy, I am at Stronsay with the grandparents. I was such a good boy on the trip here.... I sat in my plastic bed most of the way and when we stopped at Brookton, I didn't even go in the water!! How restrained and well behaved is that?! Today I went to town on the back of the ute and sat in the shade while the grandparents had a delicious and fairly prompt coffee at the Mallee Shed. On our way home, we visited Blue who hadn't been well but who is now on the mend. By the way, I jumped up onto the tray all by myself, over the edge and all!!! I didn't get out of the ute with Trailer when we arrived at the front gate. I sometimes wonder if I should join him for the run to the house, but I have to look after my feet. They are a bit delicate, as you know. I have shadowed Colin all afternoon, at his heels constantly from shed to house and back again. I am really looking after him well. We visited the chooks too and there are lots of good smells there but not as many eggs as usual.... everythnig is very dry here and no rain in sight. The grandparents were saying something about a lot of alcohol you consumed but I can't imagine my mummy doing anything too bad, so I'll ignore that. Peanut is with me at Stronsay but I have been so busy I haven't given him/her much attention. I still have your t-shirt in my bed and haven't forgotten your smell or that you love me. Tomorrow I am going back to Perth with Mobow and either Monday or Tuesday going back to Mia's house. Like you, I am quite the jet setter.... travelling all over the place! Much love, Vegemite.

[brenda]

That's my girl!
Hi Chloe, the photos are fabulous! As Marian said, keep them coming! And as dad said, it is wonderful to have such frequent and immediate contact with you. He has gone back to the shed with his faithful companion, Vegemite, while Trailer has decided he is too tired to traipse up to the shed again. Dad sends his love.... we had a good laugh at the photo of you on top of the esky. That's my girl! Carpe Diem! I had those lychee cocktails in Vietnam and Bali and I love them too. I hope you are fully recovered by the end of the wekend. Did you do the walking tour? Tell all. I love you sweetheart. Mum.

[Westernred]

Good boy!
What a good boy you are Vegemite. I am glad you are having fun at the farm. Don't let those grandparents spoil you to much! It made me laugh and cry reading your email. I loved it. xxxxx

[Mia]

YAY!!
thanks for my MIA photo sissy, looks like a great bar!!!!

[Beata and Tomek]

great ;-)