As I sit here on the landing jetty of Uncle Tan's Jungle camp I am so glad I had a week to a acclimatise the children.

First there was Adelaide Hostel in SF - private room w/en suite - basic but gd - more like a 2-3* hotel.  Then there was the Step In Lodge in KK. Private room with shared bathroom - clean and friendly.  We then faced Uncle Tan's base camp (before you get to the Jungle).  Whilst 'private en suite', smelt stagnant and musty and the shower was a hose next to the loo which drained into the concrete floor - flipflops a must at ALL times.

But all this was nothing compared with the next stage of our trip - the Jungle Camp.  A 30min pick up ride on tarmac followed by a bum numbing 1.5hrs off road in a truck to a jetty where we boarded a long motorized, shallow hull boat and headed up the muddy  river.

On arrival, I learned the true meaning of 'basic'.  I'm a celebrity eat your heart out.  I won't bother to describe it in details - I'm sure my photos (to follow) will speak volumes.

But strangely enough we love it.  Lexi is happy taking a communal open air shower in a bikini using plastic blows to pour the murky  clay water over her head - a free face mask I guess.

It feels great, especially after a 2hr jungle trek with mud coming over the top of our hired wellies.

At night the plethora of sound is at times deafening.  Ear plugs only dull the chorus.  At the 6am wake up call, monkeys can be see overhead and wild boar prints below the wooden walkways that link the stilted huts.  The catfish jump in the swampy waters where 10cm leaches lurk - so I am enthusiastically informed. 

We sleep on less than savory thin foam on the bare floor, with mosquito nets suspended from the roof on makeshift frames.  No pillows.  No doors.  Sharing 6 to a hut on 3 double (just) mattresses.

 Surprisingly, you might think, this is a very popular excursion with all sorts of people opting for this unique opportunity to commune with nature.  When we arrive, there aren't  two mattresses available under the same roof - rather a dilemma with more than one child in tow.  Fortunately, a young Aussie by the name of David came to the rescue.  He arrived in our group and says he's happy to have Will bunk with him in another hut - which is great as Will would far rather be opt for this cool stranger than hang around his mother and sister.

Far from being ostracized, everyone takes a shine to the children and are keen to hear all about our experiences and future travel plans.

Will & Lexie enjoy the attention and are happy doing their own thing.  The is a very co-habbiting, communal and comfortable environment - it has a great feel to it, encouraged and supported by the guys that run it. 

The river safaris are a cool relief to the thick still oven on land.  We see proboscis monkeys and gibbons swing from the trees, cheeky macaques (sp?) playing on the sludgy river banks and the odd monitor lizard thrown in for good measure.  Sadly no sightings of the 15ft monster python that was spotted only 2 days earlier.

The jungle treks are informative with giant centipedes and butterflies looking at home in the prehistoric looking plantation.

We didn't see hundreds of animals, nor any of them bar the insects particularly up close, but it was great to just be part of their natural habitat and not view them through bars.

It was strangely sad to leave - amazing how quickly one settles into a new way of life and feels unnaturally separated from what has become the norm upon departure.  Memories were made and friendships forged, and a shower - albeit lukewarm - much appreciated 11 hrs later back in KK.