From Jomtien Beach we were travelling down to Chantaburi for the gems market and to get closer to the border to Cambodia. However, we couldn’t get a bus direct to Chantaburi from Jomtien so we caught a bus from the main road bus stop to Rayong before getting on a connecting bus to Chantaburi. Luckily we knew the guesthouse we were going to stay in so were able to ignore all the tuk tuk driver calls asking us where we going! Chantaburi is a small traditional Thai town with very few tourists passing through. The only restaurants there are have their signs written in Thai and even the night food market was all in Thai and very little English was spoken, so after our 10 circuit around the market and before resorting to the local 7-11 ... read more

A tuk tuk and a sky train took us to our meeting place with Shirley - though because I still wasn’t feeling 100% I couldn’t remember if I’d got my lefts and rights the right way around so spent a little while wandering up and down the road to find her. A stop off for errands and an hour later we got back to Shirley’s house much to the delight of her two dogs Sadie and Daisy!! We spent the night there before going out to Kanchanaburi. We arrived in good time and checked into the guesthouse right on the river Kwai (which Eddy was a little apprehensive about!). After a well needed cup of tea we went out to the Bridge and walked across it. After lunch we took a long tail boat down to ... read more

From Chiang Mai we took an overnight bus to Udon Thani to transfer up to the border town of Nong Khai. Now normally the bus journey itself wouldn’t warrant much mention but on this occasion feel it is worth it. We arrived at the bus terminal knowing that we could get a bus at approx 7 pm for the 12 hour journey to Udon Thani. When we arrived at 5pm and went to the window we were told that the last bus out was at 7 pm and the only remaining seats were at the back of the bus and did not recline - we hesitated and checked that it had aircon and that there were no other buses going later that evening - after being told this was the last one we reluctantly paid and ... read more

It was a long day to get from Bangkok to Pai. We started out at 6.30pm from Shirley’s house who drove us to the bus station in Bangkok - with over 100 departure points it took us a little while to find the right place! We boarded a first class air con bus for the 10-hour journey up to Chiang Mai. We were immediately given some water, juice and 2 cakes each. The music went of and lights went out, with fully reclining seats we managed to sleep for most of the journey though Mark was more comfortable sitting upright he did manage to sleep. Around the 5am mark about an hour outside of Chiang Mai, we were given ice coffee in a carton and something else to eat. Once at Chiang Mai we ignored all ... read more

Hi all, Well just a quick message to update you on how we are doing with the planning of our trip. Also this is a little test to make sure our family members are linked into the blog!! Well we are both immunised now and had our boosters. Bags have started to be packed with all the items we have bought so that they don't get lost in the move - if we ever move!! Anti malaria tablets have been ordered and are on their way. Hair has been dreadlocked and I look a little less like sideshow bob now its settled down a little!!! Not long to go now!! ... read more