Unfortunately we didn't make it to patpong that night as planned nor the floating markets the next day as i got back from writting that entry to find both george and julie victims of the illness "ate somthing wierd i probably shouldnt have in thailand". So I spent a lazy day by the pool, napping and riding up and down our street on the hotels golfbuggy to get water and plain foods while they recuperated. the next day we managed a short trip to the weekend market which is huge! we didnt get too lost because we only managed an hour and u cant venture very far in in that short time, but i fear if we had stayed longer we may never have got out! we also made it to patpong in the evening which had a very good night market, so good we barely noticed the dancing girls in all the bar doors !!!?!

we are now on Koh Lanta, staying in John's house, which is so nice. i am really appreiciating all the space and our own rooms, no bunks, no strange, noisy, smelly other travellers to share it with (other than george and julie!) and of course the views arent bad too! I'll have to put some pictures up of them soon. we are staying put here for 10 whole days. something i havent actually done in 3 months! we have a little pick up jeep thing to run about in. i have got the hang of driving it now, it was quite embarrassing being the first to try when it was dropped off and having it roll down the hill backwards about 4 times as i thought it wasnt in gear but actually just wasnt using enough gas! the swedish tourists in the pool were amused i think. John has left lots of useful detailed information about the house and area including warnings to be aware of snakes and spiders etc etc. we had read all this before we arrived at the house and were on our guard looking for them, so as u can imagine, the wooden toy snake he had put under the table in the house had the intended effect in freaking us all out momentarily! it has now been put away in a cupboard so we dont forget about it and repeatedly scare ourselves!

we havent been out exploring much, but we have what seems like all the time in the world now. julie and george have avoided all thai food since recovering from their sickness, but ive been trying to be experimental.

hope all is well at home, not looking forward to coming back, the temperature change is going to be quite a shock, i dont think ive ever been quite so hot as i am here. im not even going to start on the sweat! and its the strangest rainy season ever, not a single drop of rain?!?!

oh, P.S. incase u were wondering, yes i am still the exact same colour i was when i got to australia, when i left australia and infact when i left home, that same shade of pale blue! rubbish.