beckyandy

The clock is ticking, quite literally - I have about 15 09 secsto do this blog as my times about to run out. So it's ourlast night tonight, and aswe are staying in BKK, we thought that we would splash out.We are staying at Lebua at State Tower, which is a glam 5 star hotel, which we got at an awesome price. The interior of the reception seems to be laced with all the gold of Siam. The staff cannot do enough for you, and there is a skybar. Only prop is there is a dress code for it, andas we are backpackers,havent been carrying around any shoes, only flip flops. They are ok for girls, just not men. So we are on the world famous Khao San Road trying to find a fewdeals. We have ... read more

It's so hot today. After Songkran yesterday, it's supposed to get colder here until November time. Most Thai people wear jeans and gear we would wear in the snow! Songkran Songkran was so much fun, we didn't invest in any water squirting devices, probably a good deal as they were all around 12-13 quid each, and the festivities have all stopped today! We were quite content to just get soaked the whole day. It was very refreshing actually as most people just poured water over you as you passed through the tight streets, but others just blasted you with their supersoakers. Either way, you have 0 chance of staying dry. If you come to Thailand in mid April, expect to get wet! I didn't even dress for dinner last night, just my swimming shorts on, as ... read more

Today is the Thai New Year (also known as Songkran), and to celebrate this the Thai people have one big ENORMOUS water fight. Andy and I had read up about this as we knew it fell when we were going to be in Thailand, but nothing could have prepapred us for the huge party going on all day today. The Thai people and the Westerners all have water guns, and bukets and super soakers etc and soak you every time you walk past so we havent been dry since we woke up, and then they also put some talc white stuff on your face whcih burns a little, ... not exactly sure about that, but they areall covered in it! To give you an idea of the extent of the partying .. The Thai police went ... read more

We witnessed a ladyboy cabaret last night, and it was great fun. In the words of Alan Partridge, "I don't find them attractive - it's just confusing". We arrived in Ko Tao yesterday, and it was the first mode of public transport that has arrived on time so far - the slow boat from Ko Phangan costing 450 bht each (9 quid) for a 2 hour journey, which we sat on the side of the boat and soaked up the cloudy sun, and got a true brit-abroad style sun tan/burn (well i'm speaking for myself). Becky always checks for accommodation and best resorts etc, and we found a place called Khun Ying, which offers shared dorms for 300 bht each, 6 quid a night. We stayed last night and had such a lovely night's sleep - ... read more

Sorry to those back home for not being in touch the past few days but we have been on Thai public transport the entire time! To be precise (are you ready for this??) - a three hours travel sickness enducing ride down the moutains from Pai, a wonderfully luxurious and efficient flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok (we splashed out), a miserable 2 hour wait for the local train from the airport which we eventually gave up on and jumped in a taxi to the big train station in Bangkok, an air-conditioned (not sleeper this time but good enough) train ride down to Chumporn which we arrived in early the next morning, an hour bus ride to the port where we were told by the travel company there was no boat (but once again given no ... read more

Yes, we are still in Pai .. yes we are leaving. Tomorrow morning in fact, and we've got some long journeys ahead of us. We are gonna be making our way down to the South of Thailand down to the islands by bus, train, plane and boat in a mere 36 hours. Easy! In the meantime we have had a really great and hugely chilled out last few days in Pai. As Andy has already filled you in we decided to have what travellers seem to call a 'posh' night and checked ourselves into a remote guesthouse in the outskirts of Pai for the night. The lady who owns the guesthouse is called Kob which means frog in Thai (a nickname we presume) and is a really wonderful person who tells us she lives not to ... read more

Eating organic rice and beans is something I turn my nose up at normally in supermarkets, but now i think i know the true meaning! We have decided to splash out on accommodation and pay the astronomical price of 800 Baht (16 pounds) for our own mountain view bungalow, about 5 km outside of Pai. Why you ask? Cos it's sooooo nice. After staying in budget huts, this place is like a palace. It's not actually far off. There are 5 bungalows, but because it is low season we have it to ourselves. Pai Na Pai Ta Home is where we are at, and we liked it so much last night that we have agreed to stay another night, again alone on the complex. Kob - the lady who runs the guesthouse has been so good ... read more