Left Koh Lanta almost as fast as I came, nothing much to do there and no people around, felt like a ghost town. I did everything I needed on the internet walked along the 3km long beach that was full of empty resorts and bars. The place gave the impression that it could get busy but even then I am not sure what there is to do other than mingle with the people. Certainly not a place for the solo traveller anyway. I looked at the board in the travel agency and picked a place to go. It said a two hour trip. Easy.

Ha Ha Ha...It is still Thailand. Asked to be at reception at 7.30, the bus didnt leave until 8. Got the bus to nowhere and changed about 3 different times, at first they were not even sure they had my booking. 7 hours later arrived in Khao Lak. The hostel was really nice, although clearly not build to be a dorm room and apart from the extra beds no adaptations added. The English guy that owned it with his Thai wife and young daughter were brilliant. The hostel felt like a home environment with the people that were there having stayed for a couple of months as they were volunteer teachers. The town itself was full of expats but still had a very Thai vibe and was very relaxed. I booked onto a diving trip the next day. Khao Lak is the jumping board for the simillian islandsbut with aday trip setting you backabout 5400 baht only including 2 dives I thought better of it. The diving was good, was a wreck dive which I enjoy but the fish were definitely better on the east coast. There were also tons of jelly fish. After the diving I am always so tierd so was in bed and asleep for 6 that evening. The next day was the day I was to meet Jade in phuket. Luckly I managed to get a lift for free all the way into phuket with aguy that was going the same way in his car. A quick stop over for his meeting meant a free ride for me.

Phuket was all about getting things sorted for Australia, applied for a bank account, a few jobs and booked hostel for our arrival. Apart from a trip to seedy patong beach we didnt do much. If you havent heard of patong beach it is like the seedy sexy version of mallorca. Nothing much else to say, full of russions and old men with young Thai girls. We also found out that our airline had decided to change our flights. We phoned to complain but of course customer services was only reachable by email. We were now flying into sydney then to melbourne then to cairns. If you know australia at all then you will know what a strange way round that is.

Our flight on business class was brilliant with champagne on arrival followed buy pasta and a cheese board and a glass of baileys. Arrived into Sydney for the long wait until our flight to melbourne. Although I was surrounded by white english speaking people it didnt seem to sink in that I had left Thailand. Our flight to melbourne was of course delayed so we got into melbourne at 10pm. With all the expectations that we were spending the night on the floor in the airport it was a vary nice surprise when we went to see customer services on the off chance that they could help and they put us up in the holiday inn for the night with a dinner allowance and breakfast. Chuffed we spent the night in white linin and a hot shower. Flight was at 6am. though so wasnt a very relaxed morning.

We have now arrived into Cairns and after being told that we couldnt check in till 2 went for a walk. We have registered our phones and my oz number is now 0424 862 106 for those that will use is (mum). I am now sat in a park next to a free swimming pool over looking the sea. There are people asleep and sunbathing everywhere. The place seems really nice, it is just hard to adjust to the cost of everything, the people and back to dealing with western mannerisms. After 6 months in Thailand it is even hard to speak english normally and not think about the Thai words for everything. It may take a bit of getting used to and when the aeroplane laft Thailand I was a little sad to leave behind the life that I had there but this is a new chapter and hopefully soon I will be as comfortable calling Australia home as I was Thailand.