Arriving on Paradise Island. So after saying goodbye to everyone Jen and I went to the travel agents where we had booked our bus tickets to Koh Phangan. We got there expecting our 'pick up' to be a taxi, or a truck, but what we got was a young man who proceeded to walk away. So we followed. And followed. Me with my back pack which is literally twice the size of me (no mean feat I know!). I'm not sure how far we walked but at one point I had consigned myself the fact that there was no bus at all and we would be walking to the islands. Luckily that wasn't the case and he dropped us off with a nod at another travel agent, where we queued literally dripping with sweat to get our tickets for the bus. Not a great start. Anyway when we finally got on the bus it was magnificent. I think I have become very easy to please since I've been away but the sight of a huge double decker bus with air con and a telly and reclining seats made me so happy I nearly cried. The bus journey took about 8 hours in total but it was through the night so I happily slept the hours away. In my massive reclining seat. We got to Chumpon about 5 in the morning and an hour or so later we got a catamaran over to Koh Phangan. I wasn't really sure of what to expect from this island (it is where the Full Moon Parties are held and I was a bit worried it was going to be super touristy and full of English knobheads). But when we got to the beach we had booked a night's accommodation on, well, I was so overwhelmed again I nearly cried. We had a little bungalow literally on the beach and it was just perfect (aside from the fact that our bungalow inexplicably smelt of wee - its amazing how you stop noticing things though after a while) We were in a little bay which was so lovely and peaceful but not isolated with bars and restaurants within walking distance. It really was gorgeous. And we were on the right side of the island to see the sun set which was spectacular and didn't get less breathtaking the 7 nights we watched it. And the winkle pickers! And the thai fishermen actually using spears to catch fish when the sun was setting! And the jumping fish and the crabs on the beach! So Jen and I spent a week on our gorgeous little beach (Laem Son Bungalows on Ao Srithanu if anyone is interested). We didn't really do much apart from lie on the beach or in our hammocks discussing our next dining experience. Everything became measured by when we could next eat and there didn't seem to be enough time in between to do much else! Amazing really that I haven't put on 18stone in the past week! Actually, one day (after breakfast of course) we went to a yoga class at this place called Agama Yoga. It was excellent but so so so hot. I don't think I have ever been that hot. So hot in fact one of the other fellow yogurts was retching. Oh and another day we stumbled upon a nudist beach, which was just lovely. I don't think I get the whole being naked on the beach thing but these (men) we saw were clearly loving it with their bits hanging about smiling smugly. Nice. And here I am telling you all we haven't done anything.... what a liar! We hired motorbikes! Well strictly speaking I think they were probably scooters but motorbikes sounds more impressive. That was...fun. I was terrified at first having only ever driven cars but after a while I started to get the hang of it and it was fun! You can get taxi's around the island but they are quite expensive and you have to book them so hiring the bikes was a great (and cheap!) way to see the rest of the Island.What wasn't so enjoyable was when we tried to scoot all the way to the main beach on the island and suddenly everything started to get very very hilly. It was terrifying riding up and down these vertical mountain with nothing but a cliff drop and sea on one side. We stopped after a while, and deciding not to risk our lives any further we turned back where there were more hills and my engine decided to cut out mid downhill. Again, I nearly cried. I have never been so pleased to reach flat ground again - all of a sudden the sun was shining, the birds were singing and the scary rabid dogs were actually smiling at me! (Mum…Tato…don't be worried. I survived it and, the cliffs aside, I don't think we would have done ourselves that much harm as our top speed hit a whopping 30km an hour. AND we were wearing helmets!)I read my guidebook later which said, and I quote - 'if you are an inexperienced driver avoid the hills around Haad Rin'. Bit too late.A week on Koh Phangan was exactly what the doctor ordered after our hectic and knackering Laos trip and Bangkok. I know you must all really feel for me right now….its a hard life!