The time when I spent less then 24 hours in Phuket.

It was due to be longer by the eastern side of the island turned me off it instantly. We arrived after our surprisingly good ferry journey from Phi Phi. It was a struggle to find our pre booked mini bus, we were told to go to several different people, apparently pointing in the distance and shouting 'number 10 number 10' is giving us good directions. Finally in the taxi bus we sat in the hussle and bustle of the afternoon Phuket traffic for 90 minutes. Kate and I watched nearly two episodes of The Wire, which took our mind off the journey. We arrived at the 'Square One hotel/hostel', our booking went wrong as they didn't have enough beds in their dorm rooms so they had to put us in a double room with a single bed. We agreed and trekked up to the top floor, only to find it was actual beds, on real bed frames. The bathroom had a shower curtain separating it from the toilet and there was even plastic cups with complementary shampoo sachets. These little things tipped us into thinking it was a steal of luxury - only 315 baht each. We got showered up and I persuaded Kate to cut my hair, took a good two inches off my barnet and headed out to dinner. Not venturing very far, partly because of the hunger pains but partly because the further we walked the closer we got to cheesy tourist town, hitting Elvis bars and Hard Rock Cafe themed establishments. We was due to meet the other gang but we were being boring b*****s and decided to stay in for the night. Plus Kate's bf was arriving tomorrow so she didn't want to be hungover. Another ep of The Wire was in order. Then lights out.

Our 9.30am alarm woke us up the next morning, we had to check out at 12pm but Liv and I needed to find somewhere else to sleep that night. In the process of packing I decided to make the rash decision to go up to Bangkok today and head the Chiang Mai in the North of Thailand instead of staying any longer in Phuket. I messaged Kelly and asked her if they'd mind me travelling up to Bangkok with them, luckily they didn't so Kate, Liv and I checked out of the hostel and started the walk to the guys hostel. After about an hour and a half of sweating, looking like camels, we found the guys. I bought my bus ticket, Kate booked her airport transfer and Liv booked a backpacker hostel but only for a night as Ed arrives tomorrow. We dumped our bags in various locations and headed to the see the food markets and shopping centre. All hungry, we tried out the bakery snacks in 7eleven, actually wasn't bad and pretty sure it's what I'll live on over the next two weeks - cheap and cheerful. I made it round the food market and to the door of the shopping centre before turning back to Kelly's hostel to charge my iPhone and iPad for the 15 hour bus journey I had ahead of me that night. Everyone met back at their hostel, packed up snacks and final bits and said our goodbyes. Us three girls got a bit teary when saying farewell, felt like they were waving me off onto school trip. We went through the checklist of stuff to have on the bus and to make sure all my valuables were in my hand luggage - it's well known that Thai men rummage through your belongings while you're on the bus to try to steal anything worth stealing. Sadly nothing you can do to prevent it but take all the stuff you value on with you as hold luggage. The bus was horrendous, hated every minute, there was a clock in front of me too so I was clock watching the whole journey.

Saying goodbye to the girls was sad but I know they're going to have the best time with their boyfriends. I am now a lone traveller. Well sort of. Still got some of my Koh Phangan gang with me for another day. We are now Bangkok bound. Onto Chiang Mai tonight for some Northern Thailand cultural experiences. Wish me luck!