Just as we were finally getting to sleep (after the loud music had stopped & the noisy cleaning staff had finished) the alarm went off at 9am. We grabbed a Kiwi shake and walked through the Thai market to the Temples. We passed a man begging, he had black swollen legs covered in white dry skin. I think it could have been Gangreen and looked really painful. The entrance fee for the Grand Palace (59 acres with more than 100 mansions, halls and temples) was more than we'd expected and as we're on a shoestring budget, we decided only to walk around the grounds. Their souveneer shop was fantastic, more like a museum selling hand crafted items made by people in the Hill-Tribes. Next we walked to Wat Po to see the longest reclining Buddha which ... read more

I had slept really well on the overnight coach, but Ellie hadn't at all as she's still really ill. We swapped seats so she could lean her head against the window while I (feeling guiltily refreshed) kept night watch on the coach. I was sat next to Wierd-Coughing Lady who sounded more like a dying Wolf, making peculiar wheezing noises, and the odd sneeze splattering germs everywhere. The coach company kindly handed out hot drinks and a cold flannel to all the passengers. Unfortunatly the tea was more of that powedered stuff with condensed milk that's too sweet to drink. Strangely, it also tasted of coffee and Ellie suspected they may have slung it all in together trying to please everyone. Arrived at Bangkok Bus station at 6am, navigated our way to the ticket stall for ... read more

We were meant to check-out by 7am to make it to our bus station in time for our transfer to Ao Phang Nga. As usual, we hit the snooze button a few too many times and were running late. With our backpacks weighing us down, and morning traffick to dodge, we ran and got to the bus station just as our mini-bus arrived. We collected loads more passngers along the way. They kept cramming luggage in the back and at one point Ellie's luggage fell off the pile and on to the road. I sat next to a Hungarian guy (who I'd guess was in his mid Fifties) who insisted he ask me 20-questions despite knowing little English. I was impressed that he'd decided to learn the language at such a late age, and admired his ... read more

Was by the pier for 8.30, pleased to be leaving the superficial Ibiza atmosphere of Ko Phi Phi. Don't get me wrong, I love Ibiza, and it's likely I'll be making it over there for a third time in the summer, but we'd just got settled into traveller mode and had ditched the straighteners and make-up, so it was crap when we needed to get dressed up & make and effort to "keep up with the Jones". Boarded the ferry to Phuket and slept in the sunshine on the top deck. We saw the usual taxi touts waiting eagerly on the shore, so after asking how much they wanted (500THB), we walked up the road and flagged one for 400. You may read this and wonder why we're going to such lengths to save 100THB (the ... read more

We had to be up; showered and packed early to catch the ferry to Ko Phi Phi. We got a banana shake then boarded the open bus for our transfer to the port. Settled on the outside deck of the ferry and basked in the morning sunshine. We stopped in the middle of the sea, and there was an announcement (which we didn't hear) then people seemed to be packing their things away and looking a bit bewildered. Was it just me or was the boat tipping??! The Captain popped his head out of the Control room and said "Excuse me, Excuse me, you must board the other boat, this boat can't balance". All the passengers formed a queue and started clambering accross to a nearby yaught. Amazing how we all remained calm and no one ... read more