It's been a wee while since I last wrote and I don't know where to start! Ko Phangan was so nice, had a ball there. I spent most of my time just chilling out on the beaches or by the pool at my hotel. It's a real party place so of course I just had to partake in one or two beach parties, well it would be rude not to! Met some really nice people there and was sad to leave but alas the traveling must continue. I left there one week ago and took an overnight train to Butterworth in [View Full Entry]

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I did actually add another entry the other day but it has clearly got lost in cyber space! So I made it to Auytthaya as planned just in time for Songkran ( Thai new year) celebrated over 3 days by chucking buckets of water and smearing each others faces with flour and water. I managed to avoid it the first day but hiding out in my guest house but the next day got completely soaked and floured several times when I went out on the bikes to try and see some temples. I got fed up have to stop and wring [View Full Entry]

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So still wandering aimlessly around Thailand. Well Ok thats not strictly true, I have some idea where I'm heading. I stayed in Pai for 5 days. It was actually alot quieter than I had expected, not as much live music going on. But it was a really nice place so I hired a scooter and just enjoyed the scenery. I spent one afternoon at the hot springs where the water is 80 degrees at the source and people take eggs there to boil them! At the bottom there were several mineral pools, it felt like stepping into a bath, not reall [View Full Entry]

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Well here I am in Pai, a town in the mountains about 4 hours from Chaing Mai. I only really spent 1 day in Chaing Mai, checking out the markets and went on a river cruise to a fruit farm. On Monday I went on a 3 day jungle trek. Me, trekking I hear you say!? Yep me! It was really hard and had I realised just how hard it would be I may not have done it but am so glad I did. The first day we went on an Elephant trek, feeding them as we went through the jungle. [View Full Entry]

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So as I was saying, had a fantastic day yesterday in Bangkok. Had intended to do the walk as recommended in the guidebook but took a wrong turn and ended up doing my own thing which turned out for the better. I found myself at the giant swing( Sao Ching Cha) and Wat Suthat a 200 year old temple containing a huge 700 year old Budda which was moved from another town in one piece. I was told by the guy at the entrance that today was a holy days and I could go and listen in on the prayers. Having [View Full Entry]

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So made it to Bangkok in one piece! Bangkok isn't what I expected at all, it's a lot cleaner and nicer than I was expecting. Certainly after Mumbai anywhere is nicer! Mumbai airport was not a pleasant experience. Arrived there with 8 hours until my flight to Bangkok to be told that I couldn't enter the building until 2-3 hours before your flight! I was then hassled by a couple of taxi drivers offering to take me to a hotel for ' cheap price' I declined and plonked myself down on the kerb ( no waiting areas) wondering what to do [View Full Entry]

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So I can't quiet believe a month has passed already , I'm on my last night in Goa and am particularly sad to be leaving Palolem. It has been two weeks of relaxing, walking, enjoying the sun, good food, great people and some really good music nights. Events of note since I last wrote: the poor dead Dolphin that was washed up onto the beach...the only one I saw!( huge it was!) St Patricks' night on the beach listening to live music around a bonfire and some great craic with a girl from Armagh. And just spending time in the most [View Full Entry]

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Happy St Patrick's day folks! Not that there seems to be any Paddy's celebrations going on here but I'm sure I'll find something! Not a lot to report, I have been doing exactly what I said I'd do and that's not much of anything. Been soaking up the sun, doing a bit of reading and enjoying the Goan/Indian food. Went to a party on Saturday ( tell us something exciting I hear you say!) but it was a bit different. It was what they call a headphone party. It's like a normal club night up until 11pm, and the I can [View Full Entry]

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On Monday I scooted up to Ponda in an attempt to find the temples and Spice Farm. I failed miserably with the Spice farm and decided that after seeing 3 temples the others would be more of the same so headed back to Colva after just a few hours. Driving in Goa is not for the faint hearted but I just told myself to stick to the rules I was taught to drive with and not to try any Kamikaze overtaking as the locals do! I got stopped at a police checkpoint( another common occurrence here) was asked to show my [View Full Entry]

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Not alot to report, I've had a nice chilled out weekend, checking out the beaches. Went to Colva and Benaulim beaches, fairly touristy ( Colva more than Benaulim) but not too bad. was fun watching the parasailing ( rather them than me!) Found a lovely quiet beach yesterday not far from my hotel, Bollywood beach, a real paradise beach. White sand, hardly any people and no sellers! Tan is coming along nicely! It was quite revolting having to pass the area where they dry the fish in the open air, that apparently the locals like to eat with a beer! Off [View Full Entry]

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