Yesterday was our last day in Kanchanaburi and I was booked to do the cooking class at Apple with Noi the most amazing teacher. There were two couples and I on the course and our first lesson was at the market. Not only did we learn all the different types of vegetables and fruit local to the area, but we also tasted some local and traditional Thai sweets, it was great to go for it and not worry about what I was eating and most of them were really nice, but with rather strange textures. We saw all the meat and fish lined up, flies buzzing around, luckily I missed the live frogs that were for sale.

We headed back to start cooking our first dish, Phad Thai, we had the demonstration and wrote everything down, then it was our turn, the couples paired up and took it in turns to cook, I was by myself, but didn't mind. After cooking it was time to eat, Noi tasted all our dishes and she felt mine was the best, I was rather chuffed and tucked into my yummy food. Next we were shown how to cook three dishes in a row, massaman curry, red curry and garlic and pepper chicken, once she had demonstrated each one we tasted hers and were sent to cook all three one after the other. Massaman is my favorite dish, so I was pleased to be making it. Each dish was so quick that soon we had finished all three and was ready to sit down to lunch. I invited Pete to come and eat with me, as I couldn't manage it all by myself. It may sound slightly big headed, but damn the food was delicious, I just hope I don't forget how to make it and my notes make sense, so that in 8 months time I will be able to cook them again. It had been the best cooking class I have been to, we learnt so much about the Thai style of cooking, but also about the society and the local area.

Meanwhile Pete had been having difficulty getting our train tickets for the next day, but managed to get it sorted and was grateful for the big lunch. Again we had another storm and lots of rain, which meant by the time we went to dinner, there was a frog army waiting outside for me. Pete had to shoo several off the path and then while eating our dinner, several hopped up the steps heading my way, Pete kicked one slightly too hard and it flew into the air and hit a tree. It made the waitress and I laugh, but clearly didn't teach the other frogs a lesson, because they kept hovering around. We made it safely back to the room, only to have a foot long centipede come in under the door, obviously I screamed and jumped onto the bed. Pete came out and tried to flick it out the door with his flip-flop, but it wasn't having any of it and ran into the bathroom, hiding behind the plants. We had to get it out, but we were aware that it was more than likely poisonous so had to be careful, I stayed on the bed and sprayed it with the shower hoping to get it out. The plan was to get it down the drain, but it was way too big. Eventually it came out, only to get itself caught in the drain filter, that's when it started to go crazy, so Pete hit it with his flip-flop repeatedly, this stopped the head end moving, but the back (with the stinger and poison) kept moving. Pete suggested I go and get one of the security guards to remove it, but I swiftly reminded him of the army of frogs waiting outside, so I was put on giant centipede watch (on a high stool) while Pete went and got someone. The guy came armed with a large stick and removed him from the room. The ladies at the desk had told Pete they definitely were poisonous, so I was glad neither of us had tried to be brave and pick it up (like I would anyway). That night we rolled up a towel and put it at the bottom of the door, just in case.

Today we said goodbye to Kanchanaburi and felt sad to be leaving such a great place. Apples Retreat had felt like a home from home, the people were so friendly, the food was great and despite the biting ants, the persistent frogs and gigantic centipedes it was a real highlight of the trip.

We are now in Hua Hin on the coast and have two days to chill out by the pool (yes we have a swimming pool) and top up the developing tan.

Missing you all loads and keep writing us messages, it is great to hear from everyone!!!