Thursday 9th December
Said our goodbyes to the staff at Monkey Island and the dogs that had, as everywhere, assumed that I craved the companionship of a canine friend.
We caught the speed boat to Trat at 8am as two fish eagles circled the island. What are those pirates up to?
Caught a taxi to the bus station and a 5hr journey back to Bangkok, civilisation and the big smoke. Rob got a take out meal, we were too tired to go out.

Friday 10th December

We were late getting up and went to the temple on the golden mount. Wat Suket. It was once the highest point in Bangkok but is now dwarfed by the skyscrapers of a modern city.
We went on to Lumpini Park for a stroll and discovered that they had an international street theatre festival that afternoon. We dined on the road on a wonderful Chicken and Noodle soup.
Sat and watched a kicking/heading game of volleyball (a bamboo ball) and then went to watch some acts, which were surprisingly good and well supported. There was a good aerial act with an English lad and an Oriental girl, two Japanese jugglers who did comedy parasol tricks, including a square box and juggled with Chinese drum sticks with an interesting variation on 'chops' where the club goes around the back of the head. Also watched Peppe the Clown who did a fast balloon modelling act.
We ate out in an Irish bar this evening and ate burgers and pies. The live music sounded like Irish songs reworked in a country and western style. We didn't stay for their final number!

Saturday 11th December

Zoe and Amie went Christmas shopping, while Rob and I booked the evening surprise. Looked round a book shop and then went on to the market to meet two rather stressed females. I thought that women were only happy when they were shopping.
The river cruise that evening with food, entertainment and seeing Bangkok from the river with the temples lit and the hotels with their Christmas lights was rather romantic and much fun was had.

Sunday 12th December

Amie and I went up river to Nanthaburi where we boarded a mini bus that took us to a small port to catch a 2baht ferry to Koh Kret. It's a market island and very relaxed. We ate fried flowers and continued the Christmas shopping. There were plenty of market stalls selling everything from toys to household ornaments and lanterns. Eventually made it back at 5:30pm and ate in again with a good selection of food chosen by Rob, who had to go out again for the rice.
Watched The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus on dvd - a good film and worth another watch.

Monday 13th December
Final shop for elephants, trousers, t-shirts etc. on the Khao San Road with a curry and beer before returning to pack. Whilst eating we met a young traveller who had said he'd come travelling with a friend but was talking about how surprised he was at how easy it was to meet fellow travellers. He was a fun person who was excited to be away. There were also a couple of American lads who ordered fried eggs over easy, the waitress said (after they had repeated themselves) that wouldn't be a problem, but when the meal arrived, it obviously was!
What an interesting meal tonight. A Korean BBQ. You cook the meat yourself at your table on a domed charcoal heated hot plate surrounded by a reservoir of water, into which the juices from the meat drip. Vegetables, herbs and spices are added to the water to make a delicious soup - fiendishly clever these Orientals.
We had to leave for the airport at 5am so as usual my brain allowed me little sleep for fear that the alarm wouldn't sound.

Tuesday 14th December

The alarm sounded at 4:10 and we said our farewells to Zoe and Rob who will, I'm sure, be glad to get their bed and lives back. They have been great fun and entertained us well. Zoe saw us to the taxi which took us a little over 30minutes to reach the correct airport with a total fare of about £6 including the freeway tolls.
We are now sitting in a Bangkok airport, which is enormous and we're waiting for our flight to be called. With a short stop over in Mumbai we should be home at 17:40 uk time (about 15hours 40minutes travel time). I doubt it will be this warm on our arrival at Heathrow.
I don't know how long to continue this drivel but we're now on the second leg of our journey home from Mumbai to Heathrow.
We are travelling at an altitude of 32000ft at 540mph and the outside temperature is -39 degrees centigrade (-38 degrees Fahrenheit). It's 9:50am uk time and we've curried fish/chicken. An interesting choice in the confines of a plane.
We expect to arrive at 16:50 but I'm not sure what meal I should be expecting to eat. We've been warned to expect cold temperatures on our return but -39 degrees is very cold in my books.
13:42 London time and we're almost over Moscow, 3hours to go. The outside temperature is now -51 degrees centigrade (-59 degrees Fahrenheit) and that's cold enough to pop the silver top off the milk on your doorstep.
Arrived safely to our longest wait for our luggage in all our travels and our longest wait for our onward transport (surprise, surprise Mum and Dad were late picking us up)! But we were so tired we just wanted to get home and go to bed.

Wednesday 15th December

This will be my last blog entry as I have a mountain of washing to face and a wheelbarrow full of post to sort through. The holiday exceeded all expectations and all our friends and family were determined to show us the best time possible. We can't thank them enough. It is, I'm sure, an experience we'll never forget.