Hello again folks! It's once again been far too long between updates so prepare yourselves (assuming you're still interested that is) for another lengthy update! After being rained off the day before I was up early to take a motorbike taxi to the Thap Ba hot spring for a bath in hot thermal mud. I arrived at the same time as two coachloads of Vietnamese tourists so opted to pay a little extra and have my own personal bath. There were no available changing rooms ...

So we took the night train from Hanoi to Sapa which was much better quality than the train I took from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. This one had a/c and a more comfortable bed which was a pleasant suprise. I did the gentlemanly thing and took the top bunk and we set off on the 8 hour journey. The cabins slept 4 people and we were in a cabin with two very chatty Spanish girls. They were part of a group of 6 and were very keen to try out their English with me. While this...

Hey folks......it seems like ages since I've updated the blog. Guess I must have been busy! Well you'll be pleased to know the travels are coming along just fine and I'm having a fabulous time. I obviously still thinking about home regularly (Facebook keeps me up to date with most things!) but the initial homesickness has all but disappeared aside from an occasional longing for a good pint of beer and some good old english food! A man can only eat so much rice a...

Hi folks....time for the next installment! I left you in Hau Hin in Thailand where I spent two nights. I arrived in Hau Hin on the night train from Surat Thani at around midnight.I'd already called ahead and booked a Lonely Planet recommended hotel so took a suong thaew (pick up truck with two wooden benches in the back) to the already closed hotel. The driver was insistent that it was closed and tried to take me somewhere else but after lots of door knocking I ...

Hello folks....it's time for another update. I'm currently sat in my guest house in Chiang Mai waiting for my visa application for Vietnam to come through. I've paid extra for an express visa but express in Thai doesn't seem to mean the same as back home! I left you with the boys and I about to set off for the Khao Sok National Park so that's where I'll start. We took a taxi to Na Thon (ferry port on Ko Samui) and took a 2hr ferry ride to Surat Thani. We then to...