So I'm off again. Tomorrow I leave clean, green NZ for the sights, sounds, smells & salsa of Latin America. This time I'm traveling with friend Caitlin and we've got 10 weeks of fun and mayhem ahead of us. From there I'm heading solo through the US (as long as time and money allow) and then heading on to Europe where I have a vague plan to drop my bags awhile and find some way to earn enough money to survive in that crazy continent long enough to see a little more of it. Not entirely sure how often I'll get around to blogging, but if the last trip is anything to go by I'll make the effort at least now and again... Things I will miss: - my friends & family - my shower - ... read more

Family fluttered around us like bugs to a lightbulb once we walked out of immigration and into the arrivals hall. Ok that was just my mother who was very excited. My grandmother mentioned something about cake and lemon meringue pie. Corb was calculating how long it would take him to get to GP Store to collect his Nintendo and whether he would make it before closing time. All sorts of other things were going on but I barely noticed. Home looked just the same. Dad fixed the tap in the kitchen, but put it on backwards. I tried to turn it off and got covered in water. Zoe (the dog) seems a lot older than when I left her; her face is mainly grey and she sounded one of those men in a World War One ... read more

Having the family around for the last few days has been mental - it's like having an extra four Corb's that are all as ridiculous, but as lovable as each other. We have eaten, attempted to shop and see the sights and generally had an hilarious time. At Wat Pho, Libs, Bruce and I indulged in a very relaxing foot massage though I don't know how relaxing it was for Bruce - he spent almost the entire 45mins in fits of giggles. It was luxurious though, and very soothing on our aching paws after walking all around Ayuthaya. We also visited Jim Thompson's house - the American Magnate who amassed a beautiful home full of Asian Antiquities in Bangkok then disappeared while out walking in the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. His house has now been turned ... read more

Having been here before Chiang Mai this time round was all about relaxing so it was lots of newspaper reading, napping, khao soi slurping, market wandering and a foot massage for me. It was bliss! The train back to Bangkok was pretty exciting - we had our own beds that the lady came round and made for us! The only problem was the lack of available food (a grumpy noodle lady refused to sell Corb any at the station) and the fact that the train had engine troubles, causing us to be delayed 5 hours. Due to arrive at 6.30-7am we instead arrived closer to 12..... so very hungry and grumpy were we. We were treated to an absolutely stunning fanta orange sunrise over a submerged paddy in the early hours - hopefully our last sunrise ... read more

Today we rode a real bus, and were joined by several other travellers as we headed for Mae Hong Son, a trekkers haven recommended to all by Lonely Planet and Rough Guide (among others I'm sure). It was a bumpy 4 hours ride, and we were mainly amongst the trees, but at times we had glimpse across endless mountains towards Myanmar, and down onto the sunny plains below. On arrival in Mae Hong Son we found it to be everything you'd expect of a place that is raved about by Lonely Planet: packed with people and travellers cafes. The first people we saw were grandparents out walking their grandchild - I'm sure it's parents were enjoying some time sans-baby to trek or down a beer on the lakeside (nice move). Eventually we found a room and ... read more