More from thailand!!!Miss u all!!

Howdi folkes, heres the latest from thailand! think i4Got 2 say that wen we were at the full moon party we did the limbo under a firy pole! Wooh! Riskin life an limb as usual. Hope ur all well an missin me ha! Not long till i'm back now!!!!!!!!!

Friday 8th June
Went to the beach today, it was not as pretty as the beaches on the islands tho as the water was a bit cloudy and Phuket is sutch a torist trap! U can escape that on the islands if u now were 2 go but Phuket is So over priced they think all the white tourists are walking cash mashines!! lol! I tried 2 sunbath but it was soo hot an u all no i'm not big on sunbathin as i get board. And when i did hav a go people are constantly trying to sell you stuff! Its so annoyin as sum of them really harras u and it wound me up no end! Evan if u pretend 2 b asleep!! But on a gud note theres no need to move, food and drink are always on hand!! But as well as that they try to sell clothing pictures, flutes and they evan tried 2 sell us a hammok! When we sed to the guy we didn't have a tree to tie to he said he sed 'it ok! I sell u tree!' witch was quite funny! and the thais wud try and sell u ne thing! Eavan a tree! lol!

Oh an u cudn't evan cool off in the sea as it was so warm it was like gettin in2 a bath so i cudn't cope wit it ne more an went 4 a wander round town!

The resteraunts were also really over priced! Its was about the same as u wud pay in england 4 t and thats a lot when ur used 2 payin nxt 2 nothin but we found a really nice (cheap) resturant sumhow an ate there. I don't no how me an nic du it, we just hav a nose for findin the best an cheepest places were sooo tite lol! Well not got mutch choice at the mo lol! Had chicken and cashew nuts for dinner, as always... it was really nice! We went back and got ready for a night out in Patong. But first I went to get a tattoo done on my foot!Ahhh! well it certainly wasn't as painfull as i thought and ur foot is surposed 2 b one of the most painfull places 2 hav it but not sure what all the fus is about really it smarted a bit but us women r hard arnt we lol!. Its on the inside of my foot and i got my dads and grandads names in Chinese scriptI really love it!

After that we went out, hit the bars and clubs, it was a good night, had a much needed boogie!! We were shocked at all the big fat old beer bellied, tattoo'd men wit the young thai brides but who am i 2 judge rite! I drank rather 2 muth vodka at happy hour but i was tryin 2 blot out the cold i had lol! Neway we havn't really drank that mutch in asai as it's jus 2 mutch hassel havin a hangover in this heat!!!! As the full moon party proved lol!

Saturday 9th June
I wasn't feelin well (wasn't hungover) just annoyed wit the cold i had and fancied jus chillin out i did try 2 go the beach but it was 2 hot an i didn't feel up 2 it so i went back 2 the room and hung out wit the tv 4 a bit. Nic managed 2 withstand the heat 4 a few hours and then we got showered and went out 4 t 2 the same resteraunt i had the hottest yellow curry was sweatin cobs1 What eva cobs r lol! didn't sweat my cold out tho ;o( When we were walkin round we saw a cupboard outside a shop and 3 little thai baoys were all squashed inside watchin a little telly showin cartoons was so swwet wish we got a photo.we booked the ferry 2 co phi phi don 4 the nxt mornin 2. Every were u go round thailand the budest thais hav little shrines in there houses or shops were they put insence and little offerings 2 buddah. they put things on there like sweets an pop and its allwas red pop! Buddah must like cherryaid lol!

Sunday 10th June
We were up early ready to be collected by a minibus to be taken to the ferry to get to Ko Phi Phi. I was not in the mood 4 gettin up early but i think i was still feelin rough! The ferries was one of the nicest we had been on ( it actually was a catamoran ferry!! Not an old fishin boat wit ferry painted on the side lol!) And we got free croissants and coffee witch made us ubar happy!!! On flat screen TVs they showed a Michael Jackson concert ( every 1 jus got in2 the is a pervert or not debate rather than wathin it tho, followed by Mr Bean! The thais love mr bean as they like kinda obviouse slapstick silly humour as they don't really get our sarci wit but evan i had 2 laugh at the episode were he trys 2 dive off the board in the pool but he's really scard an roles backwards ha! Black adder was sooooooooooooo mutch beta tho!!!!!!

When we arrived in Ko Phi Phi i was amazed at how stunning it was. It got ravaged by the tsuanmi and u cud see in sum areas were they had jus built on top of the wreckage rather than clearin it all up properly. There were also sum skelatons of building wit no roofs but loads of people were livin in there and tryin 2 build them up in the day time. It's a bit worriein 2 as clearly none of them had ne buildin xperience an they were all messin wit the structur an electrics!!! But i jus couldn't get over how gorgeous it was. We walked along the main street to find some accommodation, eventually covered in sweat we came to some bungalows that were cheap and overlooked the woodland mountains.(called gypsy village) The family who ran it were so nice they had loads of cute thai children. Family is really important 2 the Thais as theres no pention/benifit scheams here so when ur 2 old 2 wrk ur family looks after u and if u loose ur job or are ill ur family sorts u out so they usually all live 2 gather in big familys. I no we rely on our familys but if u don't hav ne1 here an u get in a mess ur left pretty helpless it's so sad!

We sorted out stuff, had a little rest then went for a wonder into the town, then to one of the beaches which was just so pretty, white sand and clear water! We spent a bit of time there before heading back for dinner at a restaurant with such lovely views over the harbour area an d the food was wicked!!

We got some drinks in and went and sat on our bungalow porch and got the tunes on the go. The two lads that were our neighbours hung out for a while, then they headed to town but we didn't hav ne nrg left from the long day! so we offed 2 bedforshire.

Monday 11th June
There are two islands in Ko Phi Phi, Ko phi phi don (weere we were stayin and KO phi phi Lay (were the movie the beatch was filmd) This part is protected and no 1 is aloud 2 stay on the island u can only go on day trips. We booked a day trip to Ko Phi Phi Lay wit the family who ran the bungalows. (u find that most thais hav a finger in every pie they can! They usually have accomedation, torist info, flight,trip booking and a resturant in 1!) Witch is handy but u hav 2 shop around 4 the best prices! so went down to the harbour. It was a medium sized boat, not all that nice, but fine for the day. We manged to get a decent bathing spot on front deck. Our first stop was Maya Bay, which is where The Beach was filmed (with Leonardo Dicaprio!! OMG! He's sooo fit!!), we stopped at the other side and had to walk across one beach to get to Maya Bay. That was a mission, across the rocks and strong current! Was really dangerous an the waves swept me off my feet an on2 a load of jagged rocks! Owch! The location was just beautiful, but it was taken over by tourists and there was even bits of rubbish in the sea and boats moored up all over. It seemed ruined. Such a shame. But looking through that you can stil see its beauty. I thought it was a reall shame as the whole point of the film was they found this hidden beach were they could liv away from the tourest traps in peace an harmony and now every1 wants 2 go there coz it's were they filmed 'the beach'. Shame.

We visited several other islands around where we did some snorkelling, the fish were pretty. And we Kayaked around Bamboo Island which was hard work!! From a distance you could see the Monkeys on monkey Island, but when we got on there they all hid!

We got back to the boat early from that island... worn ourselves out from the Kayaking!! Were just sunbathing when we heard Beethoven's "fur alise" blastin out over the speakers! How random! This was the call for every1 2 come back 2 the boat all the other boats had the standard horns but our crapi boat had fur alise lol! The little thai captin was really funny and startin singin along 2 it an shoutin com bac com bac or we leave u! He was also in love wit Nic and kept sayin 'Nicky, Nicky Pinto... I love you!' Down the mega phone.Surpose u had to be there but it was so so funny an Nic was made up as she jus loves the Thai boys! I can't see wat the fasination is really but hey wateva floatsit!

Later on we watched the sunset on the boat at Maya Bay, which was so much quieter now, and looked amazing, and the sunset was my favorite of the trip! Wow.

Tuesday 12th June
Check out day! Was sad 2 leave it's so pretty!! I went an sat on the beach 4 a bit wit my book an Nic pottered about. We met in our favorite little bakery 4 lunch! Sad 2 leave the bakery the food is the best an it's well cheap and it dose a great mix of thai an western food wit is cool. We went back 2 the bungalo 2 get our bags and hesded off 2 the ferry.

After the ferry ride 2 raily beach a long tail boat came 2 pic us up and take us 2 shore (well not really!) As the big boat couldn't get ne closer. It was Fiji all over agin wit the 'cram as many as we can in' felosiphy and the stressin that our bags were goin in the sea as the little thai men chuked them 2 one another!!
Thought the boat was gonna sink as there was so mutch wait and then the boat stopped a bloody mile from shore and he was like get out! It was only nee hite the water but we had 2 lift all our bags and wade the roufght the muddy sea 2 the shore! A nice mucsley guy helpt us wit our bags tho.

We saw a resort rite on the beach that had been recommended to us by charly and dave (from new z), Yaya, so went to check in there! The rooms were like tree houses as the stairs were so steep!!! Was a pure effort 2 get up there wit all the bags! We had to change room as the shower didn't work in our first one! Luckily the second room was nice and bigger, although the bathroom was grotty, we could cope with that! (gota rough it sum times hey! Me an Nic sed omg! If our parents culd see the state of this bathroom theyed hav a heart attack. But was the worse bathroomof the trip most plases hav been basic but clean.

That night we just chilled, they were showing Spiderman 3 in the resort, so had dinner there and watched that.The resturant was wicked nice affordable food and really nice staff. Was dissapointed wit spidy 3 tho! Was not a patch on the 1st 2!!

Wednesday 13th June
We booked our bus tickets to Bankok and a Rock Climbing course for that afternoon. We decided 2 try the ' yearh were stayin here' routine nxt door so we cud use the pool but wasn't long b4 we were rumbeled! lol! Oh well u win sum u lose sum! and the guy was really nice an had a laugh wit us.

Soon enough it was time to go rock climbing, I wasn't feeling my most energetic tho but the adrenalin got pumpin an i was fine! We were taken to some limestone rocks nearby. First of all he talked us through all the ground stuff such as beelining (the anchor safety for the person climbing on the rock).Id rock climed in doors b4 but it soo mutch harder doin the real thing! Nic hadn't done it b4 but she was a regular spida women and jus zoomed up. I got 2 the top of 1 but the other 2 didn't quite get 2 the top but i don't think i hav v mutch upper body stregnth and my arms went klike jelly! It was so mutch fun tho and the guid was amazed how well we did 4 begginers speshilly Nic! We were soo tired that nite tho!!!!LOL! We nearly fell asleep in our food an we culd hardly take ha! But they put the holiday on wit is really gud film, made me miss england tho! Oh an4got 2 say Nic fancied 1 of the thai men at the rocklimin i thought he was grooss but they hit ti off an he sed he wud come to our hotel wit his friend 2 see her we didn't think he wud but he showed up at the resturant and she snubbed him coz she didn't hav the nrg 2 talk lol!

Thursday 14th June
We packed up and checked out, still really tired and achy!! We spent most of the morning chilling in the restaurant area, until it was time to start our 15 hour journey to Bankok! We went to the pick up area and had to get a long tail boat to Krabi (about 10 mins away). But the tide was really out and we had to walk through wet sand, sludge and water to the boat!! With our backpacks on!! What a mission... this is Thai travel in a non-luxury way! I got stuck in the mud an nearly fell over... then 1 of the thai men who was carrin our other bags got his toe bitten by a crab an started hoppin about in pain and we had our ruck sacs on sweatin all this time, me an Nic just llooked at eact other an burst out laughin! Laugh or cry hey!!! We hav developed this ability 2 see the funni side of things when they go wrong llike this as it's beta 2 see the funni side than get all grumpy but sum times i hav 2 try not 2 laugh if i see the funi side an Nic doesn't and she does 2 if i'm throughin a stop bout sumthin she finds hilarious!

When we finally got on the boat the thai guy who got the pinched by the crab was actin like he had had his arm servered!! I don't no if he was really a whimp or if the show was 4 our benefit but he was a tad dramatic it was hardly evan bleedin! Proof again, men can't handel pain lol!

When we arrived in Krabi we got picked up by a minibuis, which took us to a station, where we had to wait half an hour and then continued on our journey. About 3 hours later we got dropped off at another travel stop, where we had a 45 min wait, so we had some food, got some snacks and then got the VIP bus to Bankok. Now this is a pretty simple jopurny 4 thailand. U buy a ticket from a to b and no 1 tells u boat the 4 mini buses and the boat and train u hav 2 get in between a and b or the 2 hour wait in sutch a place!! but we always get there! The bus was an overnight one, with full blown reclining seats, loads of leg room and blankets. The bus had loads of spare seets so we got 2 seets each that u i rold rite back it was like havin a double bed lol! Slept likea baby! Well till 5am ne way! Nic didn't sleep well but she's not bin sleepin well at all l8ly. They put Casino Royal on witch id seen at the cinema wicked film!!!

Friday 15th June (Happy Birthday Helen!!!)
We arrived in Bankok about 5am... nice and early! Nic sed she had woke up to a police guy with a bug gun inspection the bus! Scary! but she sed he smiled so not too worriein. Think they have to do routine checks.

We headed to barry's. We got a taxi to the Skytrain, and then the Skytrain to ThongLor station.baz told us 2 call him and he wud cum get us but surprise he didn't pic up. He needs a rock on his hed 2 wake him up lol! so we made our way to his. It was easy enough with help from a guy in a cafe got the bus an walked a bit it's a big tower apartment block so was easy 2 find.

We turned up at the door, Baz looked shocked we found it ourselves an the fact he had jus woken up 2 2 ratha sweaty girls at his door! we all chatted for a while, was really nice 2 see him can't belive it was over a year since i saw him. Then Baz had to get off to work. Felt really bad wakinhim up so early tho. We had showers and hit the hay well the sofas that baz was kindl enough 2 lend us! They were a lot comfier than sum of the beds we hav slpt in on our travels. I am missin buckbeds tho!! How weird is that!

Baz has a really nice big pool on the roof witch as gud veiws of bankok witch was cool. We went for a look round by Baz's. It's was strange 2 find that hardly ne 1 spoke ne english here. Most people spoke english everywere else we hav bin in thailand so we naturally thought that the capital wud b the same but not true! We came 2 hav more language problems here than newere else on our trip! We tried 2 order food at a little cafe but there were no menu's in english or pitures so we had 2 just point at what sum1 else had an we later remembered that pointin is considered really rude in thailand. But the lady seemeed really nice an seemed chuuffed we sed thanks in thai! She thout it was all a bit funni really.

Was really sad that i cudn't b there 4 Helen's birthday as it's the 1st one ive mist since weve bin friends no matter were i was but i sent her a card an pressi an will take her out when i get home!!!

We neva had that problem when we ate out wit Baz tho as his thi is really gud! He says its not but i was well inpresst! Specially that it's apparntly 1 of the hardest languages 2 learn as it's based alot on tone and u can inply somthing totally different than u mean 2 if u say it in the wrong tone so go Baz!!!

When Baz got back that nite we went 2 a nice out dooor restuarnt an had sum food an beer of course!!.

Saturday 16th June
We had an early start and we headed to Chatuchak market. Needless 2 say Baz chose a lay in 2 the market lol! Boys jus don't get the shoppin thing hey! We walked to the Skytrain, got a Starbucks on the way for a mutch needed caffeen injection!! When we arrived we were shocked at how big the market was... We were there from about 9.30am to 4pm and we didn't get round half of it! it was amazing! They sold everything... souvenirs, clothes, bags, furniture, puppies!!! (i wanted them all!), toys etc! So much fun! Was so sleepy tho as it's really hot 2!!!

So that nite Baz took us out in Bankok were after a few beers i was brave enough 2 eat a cricket! Was ok it tasted a bit like bbq crisps. Nic looked grossed out tho!! We had a few beers an a kbab and a catch up and Baz took us 2 see a couple of "sexy shows" And well leave it at that as this journal is edited 4 perental veiwin lol! (Only mesin mum will tell u bout it wheni'm home it's some of my m8's can't handel it!)ha! The bars that had the 'sexy shows' still all had the little buddah shrines wit the cherrade 4 buddah wit i thought was strange!

There was not as many young thai girls wit western fat old men here as i thought there wud b (not as bad as phuket!) they seem 2 b wit young westoner guys. If a young pretty thai women is goin out wit an old fat westoner wit bags of cash it's not really looked upon as gold diggin here it's just looked at as a way of lookin after ur family, a way of life,the sensible optaion i surpose when u look at some of the alternatives they hav.

Sunday 17th June
Lay in had a toatal chill day an read me book! Really needed it!!Sunday.Went to the cinema in Siam to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3. The cinema was really posh and nice. We got in just as the film started and missed the traditional National Anthem which is played before every film performance and everyone has to stand up. Really enjoyed the film but i was blumin freezin as i didn't bring a jumper as u don't think 2 when its boiling!!!! But the air con was icy cold an coz we had bin sweatin out side i cold the chills as i was only wearin a little boob tube an shorts!!

Monday 18th June
We got the Skytrain in the morning and then a taxi to Ko Ratanakosin. The first stop we made was at the Grand Palace.

It was 250B, but there was a big sign saying "Free for Thai"!! Can't you believe it?! Canu imagion the uproar if we put sighns on all the tourist attractions in the uk sayin Britts go in free!!! Ive noticed that alot where eva ive bin in the world like teneriffe there was a big sign sayin locals 1/2 prise!! It annoys me!! Inside there were stunning buildings all around. We went inside Wat Pha Kaew (Wat means Temple), there were mosaics all over the outside, Every buildin was ornate inside and out! must have taken ages to do! The walls in each buildin were intricatly pattenedn and they were all hand painted! Sori but idé just get the old rolla and dulux out lol! Inside was the Emerald Buddha (which is actually made of Jade). The King comes and changes his outfit when the season changes, theres Hot Season, Rainy Season and Cool Season.

The Grand Palace is such a lovely building, all in white, expect for the roof which has gorgeous gold details. All around are guards surrounding it. In the grounds was a coin museum which we popped into, but as we thought, it was a little dull, so made a quick exit!!
On the outside of the Palace, on a roundabout, there is a big statue of the 3 white elephants that ised 2 live in the palce. They were all albinoes! Two of them have died now but the remainin one lives in one of the other palaces wit the king. Did i mention how mutch they like the king here? About 90 % of the thais were the yello kings shirts on mondays and the hard core devotees were them most of the time!!! And there are pictures of him everywere and there not forced 2 du ne of this they really love him! It's quite nice really. U can't evan go on utube!! As som1 put a deogatory video on there of the king and so the thai coverment who controls the internet here banned ne 1 from goin on it! Clare sent me a link 4 utube an i tried 2 get on it and a message came up sayin i wasn't alloud 2 access the site! Most people think our royal family are a joke but maybe more young people will get in2 them if wills is king nxt??

After that we walked to the National Museum, but it was shut Mon and Tue... the Lonely Planet didn't say that!!! Rubbish! We had dinner at a really nice little cafe tho.

After lunch we went to Wat Pho and it was pretty amazing. Before we got in there though a Tuk Tuk driver was telling us that is was closed and suggested going elsewhere...But we had red the tuc tuc driver du this then take u 2 another tourist attraction, charge u a fortune an get commition from the tourest attraction. So we told him no and went to the temple, and guest what? It was open!! Inside was a giant gold Buddha, lying on its side, just barely fitting into the temple. It was Hug! He's called the reclining buddah, he was definatly my favorite buddah! See the pics how big he was!!!

After we'd seem the temple we got a taxi to Siam and had a look around the MBK centre, which is a shopping centre with some market style stalls . It was good. Weren't there too long tho as it had been a long day! The heat is horrendus here and the pollution!! Well lets jus say my astmah is back wit a vengence!! Ive neva seen pollution like it u can see it hangin in the air its gross!!!! The conbination of the 2 gives u a constant groggi feelin actually found myself pinin for sum crisp brittish weather!!! OMG! Things hav got bad lol!

Nic was pooped and slept from 8 till 8 the nxt day! I went out 4 a rather nice pizza wit Baz an sum beer. Went 2 an english style pub called the witched den or sumthin was nice.

Tuesday 19th June
We set off and got the local train to Chinatown, at the main station we booked our overnight train to Chang Mei. We wanted to go to an modern art gallery there that sounded really cool, called 'About Studio/About Cafe', but where it was meant to be wasn't open. Boo. And we walked aound 4 ages in the heat trin 2 find it 2 so that put us in a delightful mood!

So walked on to Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, took a while to find it and when we did we weren't very impressed!!!! It was described in the lonley planet as bein a mysterius wat wit a laberenth of passege ways! More like trampy little wat wit a few dusty corridors! So we walked onto Dusit Park, which was miles awy but din'd look it on our stupid map! so we stopped at a nice bakery and had lunch. Then carried on walkin in the blisterin heat 4 another eternity.

We ended up getting a taxi from there and got to the park so we wudn't be late 4 the dancin. got there just in time for some Traditional Thai Dancing... which had been cancelled!!!! NOOOOO! I was so not happy by this point! I'd had fun in Bankok in the evenins and it was great 2 c Baz but i felt that all the site seein we tried 2 du had gone wrong an found myself wishin i had stayed by the pool all day! Then i discovered that i was surposed 2 pring my ticket for the grand palace an i wud hav got in 2 the park 4 free! But i hadn't an nic did so Nic went in 2 hav a look round. And i went an sat in the cafe 2 wait 4 her. I hadn't brought a book great! And the drink i ordered tasted like salt!!! All in all a VERY BAD DAY! This was not 1 of those laugh in the face of situations it was through a little silent stop situation! lol! And the more i thought about the day there more annoyed i got an nowin we had another long walk 2 the station was makin me evan crosser. So hey things cudn't get worse hey! Wrong! We slogged in the heat an fumes 2 the station 2 find the train wasn't runnin 4 an our an we wud hav 2 change blah blah!!! So we jus got a taxi :O(

That night we just chilled out wit Baz Went for street food, it was well good! Yummy!!

Wednesday 20th June
So new day (that was just as stressfull as the last lol!)
Thought we'd go and get our visa's sorted for China and Vietnam. Well it was more hassle than ever! Bangkok is a nightmare to get around it really is absolute hell! Nothing is ever easy here!!

We got off the Skytrain and walked for miles!!!!!!!(literally) in the heat to find the Chinese embassy, but couldn't find it. Later found out that if we'd walked just a bit further we would have got there! AHH!! Tryin 2 cross the main road 2 get a taxi back 2 the station coz we thoiught we mite faint if we tried 2 walk it back was a nite mare 2. By this point we'd lost the will to live and saced off the visas and went to Siam Square to look around the massive shopping centres they have there. That cheered us up!! And we had a subway! Yeah HAppy again!

We jus hung out wit Baz that evenin an had an eary nite as we had 2 b up at 5am! @ go to the tigar temple!

Thursday 21st June ( one of my best days eva! Eavn tho we spent most of it on sweaty buses!)
There were organised trips u can du 2 the temple but we thought wed cut out the middle man (an the 100 bart) an make our own way there! We had to get the local train to the main train station. The train was a little late and forever slow! When we got to the main train station we had to get a taxi to Bangkok Noi station across the river... yep they don't do a train there! As the traffic was getting busy we missed the 7.45am train by mins! Luckily the Southern bus terminal was close by and managed to get a bus from there to Kanchanaburi, it was a shorter journey than expect, 2 and a half hours. When we got there we had to get a local bus to the temple. On the same bus was a Canadian girl getting off at the same stop as us, so we got chatting to her.

So then we were officaily in the middel of the thai countryside! Was really beautiful! From the road the temple was about 30 mins walk, which in th blistering heat felt like forever!! Eventually we made it! It was 300B donation witch was a bargin 4 one of the best days we hav had! And coz it's a temple they offer u free food as well but we wernt hungry but how nice of the little monks!! They explained how the donations helpt wit the tigers upkeep and we got a little booklet explaining all about it an the different tigars we were goin 2 meet. The monks save up the donations and buy animals from the slaughter house an let them liv in the tempel grounds!! I thought this was a most fabulous idea and i think i want 2 b a budest now!! Were were told not 2 toutch or pass ne thin 2 the monks as they r forbiden from comin into contact wit women. But they were all really nice an we had a gud laugh wit them! We were told not 2 ware bright hot colors like red or pink or orenge or perfume as u wud.nt b alloud near the tigars. Luckily we were dresst fine and wé havn't been in the habbit of werein perfume as it attracts the mozzies!

We walked in the gates of the temple, it was like woodland, with lots of wild boars running around. One really scarde nic it was funni! We walked up the path were we were told 2 go an we were surprised how quite it was not many tourists at all! when we got there, was a monk sitting down playing with a tiger cub. We didn't expect to see a cub so this was so amazing. He was sooo cute!! His name was Han.

I'm so glad we got there early bfore the crouds came as the lady let a few of us hold him and hav our pics yaken me an Nic were nearly cryin he was so beautiful an playfull!!! Was sutch a cool xperience. He bit Nics nec and she had a little scratch but if he can du that playin imagion what his big bro cud du!! Then they brought the big tigers out, they were breath takin! I've neva been this close 2 a tigar an was really in shock! They were so carlm a bit sleppi reallly but i don't blame them as the heat was furious in the vally! One of the big cats was Han's big bro an we got a cool pic of them playin (check the pics! There my fave pics of the whole trip!! So cool!!) He wasn't alloud near his dad tho as apparntly they sumtimes kill there own cubs as they feel they may grow up a threat! :O( The monks sed that they are so calm as most of them have been rescued from poachers or orphand and there fore hav bin wit the nmonks since birth and they are fed cooked meets as it stops them gettin infestions an they neva get the taste 4 blood. After a while the crouds started 2 por in and they put Han back in his pen wit his mumi. So glad we got there ealrly an got 2 hold him!!!

They big tigers were being walked to the canyon by the monks, everything was so well organised, staff were everywhere and sorted everyone out into a line and took cameras to take peoples photos. Gradually I got to walk along side the tiger, hand on his back and a monk on the other side to keep control. Wow. Thier was quite a few people buy now and it wasn't as intimate xperince as wit Han.

But u get time on ur own wit the tigars and the staff were so gud holdin ur hand at all times so u don't sneek up an alarm the tigars. When we got to the canyon where four of the tigers were sat casually. My guy led me around the area, while another staff member had the camera. I sat with each tiger and had many photos taken. Got to stroke them too apparently they like bein stroked and played wit! It was sooo cool! They only time i was a tad scarde was the last tigar when i was sittin nxt 2 him turned round an jus stared at me an the thai man pulled me away 4 a bit. Then they told me 2 sit back down when he had started chooin on his bone again! And i was a bit nervouse the thai man jus sed he likes u and laught! I thought yeah like me 4 dinner more like lol! On the pics wit the tigar who is chooin his bone u can see i'm more than a little nervous! There so beautiful an carlm but when he stared me out i jus thought how big an strong he was and it freeked me a tad but was one of my fave xperiences of the trip!! And one i doubt ill get 2 du again as there thinkin of stoppin the public contact and buildin a mout between the visiters an the tigars! So glad we came when we did!

After we'd done that one of the tour guides took us with her group to see the tiger cub agin. This time he was in the enclosure with his mum. Then we walked around to another enclosure where a mum tiger had just given birth five days ago to three cubs. We could only just see them, they looked the same size as a normal cat already!

From there we met Mew Mew, a type of bear!! First of all we got to feed him some nuts then, got to stand next to him, make him stand up and feed him some milk. It was funny, whn I stop feedin him the milk he took to hugging me to get the bottle!! The tour guide had to come rescue me as the I couldn't hand the bottle to the monk that was here as it is wrong for a female to pass anything to a monk. It has to be a male.

Then it was time to go and start the long journey back! We walked the hike to the road and waited get for a bus to come it tuc 4eva so i gave grandma in wales a quick call on my mobile an then craig. got back to Kanchanaburi bus station then got a bus back to Bangkok. This time it took about 4 hours! ! But the day was so fantastic, the hours of travelling was worth every minute of being there and it was the best day of my travels.

Eventually we go back to Baz's and told hi m all about our exciting day. As a treat he got us a Curry Doughnut... yes a Curry Doughnut! Nics a weirdo an liked it i only had a bite an it was just wrong!!!!! and Baz refused to try it. It was quite an experience!

Friday 22nd June
Iwas definatly in need of a ly in and Nic went off in2 town 4 a bit. When she got back we got some packing done then we headed up to the pool 4 a bit then went on Internet and finally sorted photos out! Hope u like them and get through them!! Theres millions! The only ones we can't put up are the full moon an rockclimin 1's as we took them wit a desposible but u can see them when were home.

Anyway we got sorted and went out for dinner across the road an a couple of last minute beers wit Razzmatazz lol! Was sad sayin bye as not sure when ill nxt see him but we keep in toutch on the net! And he shud du the ammount of time he's on there lol! we picked up our stuff and headed to the local train, to the main station where we were getting the overnight train to Chiang Mei from.

Ok well think u all no how xcited i was bout the overnite train thing! But if u don't..I hav wanted 2 sleep on a train since seein james bond doin it when i was a wee sprog! This xperience howeva was certainly not James Bond!!!! The train had bunk beds all along it and it was more like a sweaty cattle train! There wasn't any air con and not a bottle of champers in site!!! Nic bagsied the bottem wit the window and the nice cool breze and i was stuck swelterin on top bunk wit the worst ladder in the histori of ladder! Wit was trez differcult 2 menover on ne way but ide also had a few beers wit Baz and then had a few on the train wit som guys we met so it was ard wrk lol! @ top it off we were situated neer the tiolets an they did wif!! An coz íd bin drinkin beer i was up an down the ladder all nite 2 the loo! I had a foam matress witch is jus what u want when ur on a super hot train lol! But at least i had a couple of straps 2 keep me on the bunk if the train wobbeld ha!!! The us were two guys, one from LA and one from Holland. The guy from LA was such a tart! He cleansed, toned, moisterised and brusht his teeth used mouthwash put his ear plug in an his eye mask on, pulled his curtain across and off he went 2 sleep!

Saturday 23rd June
Still on the train, had an ok slet beta than i thought i wud just kept wakin up when we left each station as its an old scoll train an jolted pretty badly! So15 hours later we arrived in Chang Mei!!!!

We got a taxi straight to Julies Guest House which was recommended to us by Nics m8. It seems much nicer here than Bangkok, the air is clearer... but thats not a hard job! The place has a mutch nicer feel 2 it the locals are a lot friendlyer! They take ur mony wit a smile rather than a growl lol!

We had a little look around, booked a trip for later in the week and tried to find out about how to get to Vietnam from here. Well... Mum and grandma... you'll be relieved to know that I don't think we'll be going as its so much work from here and money! I mean days of travelling and going to end up very expensive! And then theres the Veatnamese and laos visas wed need 2 get! Not includin doin nethin when were there! So looks like we'll be spending longer in Hong Kong and Beijing, which we're excited about!!!

Had a very late lunch... pad thai!!! Was v xcited as they didn't seem 2 du it ne were in bankok!... yummy! But was so stuffed!

HAd a drink at the guest house and offt 2 bed! Long day!

Sun 24th June
Had a lye in then had a mooch round town and then came here 2 upd8 u all.

Think were off 2 the nite bazar 2 nite jus 2 look tho not got ne pennies left!! Spesh noe the hong kong flight wil b costin more than we thought Ahhh!!!

Love u all can't wait 2 see ya!!!!
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