After the night on the sleep train we arrived at Chiang Mai at 7am, we decided to go on a mountain bike tour south of Chiang Mai; I agreed as they promised me there would be no hills at all on the route! It was quite pleasant we mainly stuck to back streets and got out into the country side we looked at another temple (sorry I have completely forgotten all the names now - they start with Wat) then we went to the Leper Colony which is where they look after all the...

So we had to take buses to the old capitol Ayutthaya, 4 hours in total on the worst buses imaginable! They left the doors open (oh how my skin loves 4 hours of gail force winds!) and the seats were made for midgets! There is a photo to prove this - even the thai people were laughing at me trying to get my knees behind the seat in front of me! Eventually we arrived and we went round more temples, I worked out I was born on a Wednesday and you have your own person...

Jan 2nd to 3rd Well I met the tour group in Bangkok; there are seven of us - I was a little disappointed to be the only solo traveller but the good thing is that I get my own room all the time as there is an odd number in my group! We have an American couple Devon and Craig; probably about 50 yrs old, two Oz lads Brendan and Daniel; 19 and 20 yrs old and two Oz girls; Michelle and Kerri 29 and 30 yrs old. I've got used to everyone now but the two girls were a b...

Well this is nearly the end of my Bangkok stint with Mark, we head our seperate ways tomorrow and I go and join a tour group. It's been really interesting we've just done the normal tourist things, visited the Grand Palace and the temple of the Emerald Budda, hired a long boat and toured the canals, ventured to the markets in China town at night and viewed the very expensive shops in Siam Square. There are people that stand near tourist attractions here and try...

I have arrived safe and sound! I managed to watch four movies on the plane but sadly got no sleep! Watched a wicked film called "Ghost Town" with Ricky Gervais in - well worth a watch. It's not as hot here as I thought it would be, just a little sticky. We have got our bearings today and the true exploring starts tomorrow after I have got a little sleep! Ta ta for now...