It has been brought to my attention that I didn't add the photo of the hunky diving instructors. I apologise profusely! Here you go....!!!! [View Full Entry]

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I spent the morning having a last look around Chiang Mai and desperately reading as much of the Lonely Planet 'South East Asia on a Shoestring' I had borrowed from the hostel as humanly possible before leaving for my 14 hour train journey back to Bangkok (what fun!). I have decided that I want to come back to SE Aisia next year as there is so much I haven't seen. I want to go to Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, maybe continue my dive training in the Philipines?! I have worked out that I have enough air miles to fly from NZ to [View Full Entry]

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The train journey actually took almost 16 hours in the end and I arrived back in Bangkok extremely tired at about 07.30. I made it back to Joeys and let myself in with the key I had managed to keep in my posession for a almost a week. I truely believe this is a record!! Perhaps I could now apply this new found skill to my phones??! After washing my entire wardrobe in the sink I fell asleep on the sofa watching films until Joey arrived home from work to collect her bags. We were off to Ko Sumet for the [View Full Entry]

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I was up at 7 following my early night, much to the distress of my room mates! By 08.30 I was suncreamed up and turning nicely golden on a deck chair! Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side and the clouds came over before lunch and stayed put for the rest of the day. Bizarrely it was still bikini weather even with the cloud cover and I still got browner through the day. I was aware you could tan with cloud cover but didn't really believe it until that point! There was a pontoon off the beach, and while this [View Full Entry]

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For some reason, unknown to man nor beast, I was up again at 7am! My head was clear and I felt quite spritely which, in reality, could only mean one thing. I was still pissed. I took some neurofen to be safe and headed off, with Harry in tow, to a sun lounger on the beach leaving the others fast asleep. There was not a great deal of movement for the rest of the day until 15.00 when 2 opposing things happened at once. Firstly, my hangover kicked in and secondly I had to get on a speedboat back. I am [View Full Entry]

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After spending most of the day recovering from the excesses of the weekend, Joey and I headed out to the cinema to watch James Bond. Im between the trailers and the film itself, you have to stand for a version of the National Anthem. Amazing! While the music was playing, there was a montage of all these photos of the King from a baby all the way through to present day! Unreal! After the film, we went to buy some DVDs and souveniers in this market in the centre of stereotypical Bangkok. There were young thai girls (and quite a few [View Full Entry]

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Up early (again!) to get another scary minivan, this time to Kanchanaburi - a town a couple of hours north west of Bangkok and stradling the river Kwai. It is indeed the location of the film 'Bridge Over the River Kwai'. Although I knew it wasn't going to be an easy day, it ended up being far tougher than I imagined. Being the 11th November, and arriving at 10.45, I headed straight to the Allied War Cemetery just in time for 11.00. I was knocked for six as soon as I walked in as the cemetery was so well cared for [View Full Entry]

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I woke up feeling a bit sorry for myself - no idea why. It's not like I have anything to be down about!!! Lol! Anyway, I figured the best possible way to rid myself of this was to spend a day pampering!!! After browsing through several leaflets, I chose the Sinativa spa on the outskirts of the city. I started with herbal steam, followed by a herbal and rose jacuzzi!!! The closest I have come to a hot bath so far this trip!!! Next up was a 45 minute facial to try and rid myself of some of the grime I [View Full Entry]

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It rained all night so everything s so slippery outside! My muscles were absolutely killing me so the first 10 minutes walking were spent trying to coax my stiff muscles into movement while trying not to fall over, not the easiest task!! We only walked about an hour before reaching the river. The first stage was white water rafting in a big rubber dingy. It was excellent and the rapids were pretty big as the river was full with all the rain we'd just had. We got drenched instantly but it was great!! we also managed to chase down the other [View Full Entry]

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A day spent resting and covering my mosquito bites and blisters in antiseptic. Perhaps I should have let the guide put alcohol on my other foot after all!! I took the opportunity to add some photos to the blog. I know several of you have asked for more so here they are. I went back to the beginning adding as many as possible so take a look! I also succumbed to western food again today and ended up in a little Italian eating carbonara and garlic bread. Mmmmmm! [View Full Entry]

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