Kho Tao (KT) is an island in the Gulf of Thailand, part of a chain of 3 islands along with Koh Samui and Kho Panyang. KT, meaning turtle island in Thai is only 21 square kilometers in size but in the last 15 years has developed from a sleepy fishing island into a busy dive resort. In fact we are told that approximatley a quarter of all the worlds divers come to KT to learn how to dive. Our journey here from Bangkok was very eventful. We weren't able to get ...

Lampang is the second biggest city in the north of Thailand and is only 70km south of Chiangmai along the superhighway (it is 2 lanes and that is a big deal around here) back to Bangkok. Despite it being the second biggest city we were still able to walk around the main centre in the space of 30 minutes. Much to our amazement, for a country that is still developing, just about every other shop was a jewellers and about a third of the rest were junk shops. ...

Oh My God!!!!!! We are alive but only just - white knuckle doesn't even begin to describe the journey on the speedboat from Laos to Thailand along the Mekong. There were 6 of us crammed into a boat 3 feet wide and the seats were no more than 2 feet deep per couple. With our knees almost wrapped around our necks this was the most uncomfortable journey we have had. And we sat like this for 7 hours. At least they took some care with the safety angle, as ...

We are now in the town of Nong Khai on the border with Laos. Definetly a chill out place, it is impossible to feel hurried or agitated here. Food is so good at the hotel that we have planned to stay an extra 2 nights before heading over the border to Laos on Friday. NK is very much a sleepy little town and to be honest there isn't a great deal to do here other than relax on the banks of the Mekong river, enjoy the food and perhaps have a massage or two. Whi...

Kanchanaburi is the closest town to the Bridge over the river Kwai, made famous in the film of the same name. The sole purpose for visiting this small town just a few hours from Bangkok, is to learn about how and why the Death Railway was built and to visit the Allied war cemetry in the town. In WWII, Japan was allied with Germany and Italy, but its main aim was to invade China and "release other Asian countries from western colonisation" - by colonising the...