thanks for all the replies guys..
currently using str_replace to replace all the " " with "+".. so far it works..but still think its not the right way to solve this..
ee.. nope not using urlencode() on the string..will try that..
as the string is an encrypted string using M_CRYPT .. so it is a random string with all kinds of funny characters..eg.."+","/"..
any idea if its some option of php or the apache server that is stripping out the "+" from the url ?