I flew into Phuket on the 9th Jan. Its not somewhere I really had on my radar until about a week ago. I'm not sure what to make of it, even after nearly a week there. I wouldn't pick to go on holiday here unless I was single, though parts of it are very beautiful. I guess the closest I can come to describing it is Tenerife meets Pattaya as the beauty is changed by aspects of the latter. I came here to see Melissa for the last time before I head off on the rest of my travels. She was working in the northern part of the island at the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project. A noble effort which is working to re-introduce gibbons to the island having previously seen them hunted to dangerous levels. The locals ... read more

After 5 hours we arrived in Mui Ne, a beach resort along the Southern coast with beautiful beaches, a surfer vibe and an unspoilt charm. We checked into the Sunny Beach Resort. The room was gorgeous, dark wooden floors, a sumptuous bed and 30secs walk to the private beach. It was late so we headed to a local restaurant for something to eat before heading to the pool for a late night swim. The next day we got up early to watch the sunrise. The sky reached out in all directions lit up in blues and oranges by the warming hand of its helper. We did some impromptu Mui Thai on the beach before heading into the sea for a swim in the warm waters followed by a welcome breakfast of pancakes and a fry up. ... read more

I never thought I would wake up on a boat set in one of the worlds most beautiful backdrops on Christmas day... but on the 25th Dec 2010, I did just that. The trip had started on Christmas eve as we cruised out into Halong Bay, a UNESCO world heritage site. Its difficult to describe the majestic nature of this area. The core of the bay is 334km2 and has over 775 kasts and isles. Each the result of over 20million years of the tropical climate carving and shaping them into the spectacular scene we know today. The Vietnamese legend talks of the Gods sending dragons to protect them against the Chinese, spewing jade and jewels into the sea to form a barrier. Areas of the bay were formed as the dragons tails swailed about, carving ... read more

8ft tall and built like a tank I realised that I should have taken the easy option and got him another drink. This wasn't a fight that my training or anything else could prepare me for. The circumference of his foot doubled was the same as his height. He was that big. I didn't want to point out that Balloi was a slightly camp name. It didn't matter that he couldn't speak English, these things have a way of transcending language barriers. As i contemplated my options a huge series of vibrations moved through the ground. He'd taken pitty on me and knelt down to make things easier... ...and so i climbed onto an elephant. An experience that really is too alien to describe. As a child i'd dreamt of flying planes, visiting space and sailing ... read more

I've just finished my first weeks training and to be frank its been brutal, but by the end of week one i've felt like some of the punches and kicks are falling into place. A little about the school. There are currently around 18 students training. Most of them are regulars who have been coming for years. They return home, save up and then come here to train. Their dedication is almost monk like, living in quiet apartments nearby. Everyone I have met is friendly and wants to help. Not once have I been made to feel a stranger in the school. Those wishing to join will need to have an interview first, only then will the location be revealed. The first three days I felt useless. I was tired from the intensity of the training ... read more