Day 29 (Friday 4th Jan 08)

Got up early and got taken back to the airport for our Bangkok flight. Another good flight with Jet Airways to Thailand. Arriving at Bangkok's new airport was amazing. Impressive new building and was so nice to finally have nice clean sit down toliets that didn't stink and had toliet roll!! Realised how basic India was! Booked an ongoing flight straight to Chiang Mai with Air Asia. Rang around guesthouses while we were still in Bangkok to make sure that places had spaces and found Sarah's Guesthouse which we would stay at for a couple of nights until we had had a look around. Checked in and had to pay for overweight luggage as you are only allowed 15KG! Good flight up to Chiang Mai, taxi to guesthouse.

Day 30 (Saturday 5th Jan 08)

Got up after a much needed sleep from travelling for 2 days. Wasn't exactly the quietest night's sleep though! Thought we would start by having a walk around to get our bearings. Went to Ratana's Kitchen for some lunch. Did a lot of walking around! Found another guesthouse to move to tomorrow. Bought a gorgeous photo album which neither of us could resist even thought its massive and not sure what we are going to do with it now! Found an internet cafe to contact home to let them know we were ok and had something to eat.

Day 31 (Sunday 6th Jan 08)

Left Sarah's Guesthouse with our backpacks on our backs and started heading for Nice Appartment. The Tuk Tuk offers were too tempting and gave into them for the rest of the way! Settled in to our new place and then went out to explore the Sunday Market. Amazing market where they close off a few of the roads and stalls cover the streets. Walked around the market for about 4 hours and still didn't see everything! Lots of nice things to buy but resisted the temptation for now, might be a different story next Sunday!

Day 32 (Monday 7th Jan 08)

Had a lazy morning and then got up and ventured out for some lunch. Then had a wander though Sompet Market and around parts of the Old city. After lots of walking around headed back to the guesthouse and got ready to go out for something to eat before heading off to the Thai Boxing. We got shown to our seats which were right at the front by the blue corner! The first match was very hard to watch as they were 2 little boys fighting each other. You could tell they didn't really want to hit each other as there was a lot of dancing around and then the Referee would push them together. We both decided we wouldn't want to watch the kids fighting again! As the fights went on the boxers got older so was easier to watch. It was very surprising how many women fights there were. After the boxing had finished there was a lady boy caberet. Both were definitely an experince!

Day 33 (Tuesday 8th Jan 08)

Another lazy morning, went for a cheap lunch and walking around for a while and then ventured into China town to have a look around. After having walked around China town we went along the market stalls outside the night baazar, again lots of nice things to buy! Headed back to Ratana's Kitchen for some cheap food and then back to our guesthouse. Mark was still hungry so went out to try and find something cheap in the shop. Found some pot noodles for B13 which filled the gap!

Day 34 (Wednesday 9th Jan 08)

Decided we needed to do some planning and save some money today as we have been over budget a couple of days. Went for a cheap lunch, then did some reading up on Thailand. Went for a wander to find another cheap eating place for the evening and then back to the guesthouse.

Day 35 (Thursday 10th Jan 08)

Played some UNO. Went out for some lunch where Mark had a very spicy beef curry! His mouth was still burning half an hour after! Came to the internet cafe and updating blog! Managed to take all afternoon! Went back to the guesthouse and then went for something to eat.

Day 36 (Friday 11th Jan 08)

Got up late and got something to eat. Decided to go to the zoo in the afternoon. Got a Tuk Tuk to the zoo. Ripped us off we think. The zoo is to big to walk around so we paid to use a shuttle bus which runs regularly. We were looking foward to it however when we got to the tigers enclosure we found that what Rough Guides had said in the book was not exactly correct! The enclosures were very small! Didn't really enjoy it that much as it could be so much better. Got a Songathew back to Tha Pae Gate with another couple. A lot cheaper than by Tuk Tuk. Went for something to eat and back to the guest house.

Day 37 (Saturday 12th Jan 08)

Got up and started walking through the old city towards the Saturday Market and found somewhere for lunch. Finished up and then carried onto Saturday Market. Decided we had arrived a tad early so went to look for an internet cafe. Walked around for ages and found nothing so got a Songathew back to Tha Pae Gate. Used Skype and emails, as always took longer than we expected! Got a Songathew back to Saturday Market and wandered around. Saw lots of nice things but managed to resist as the bigger Sunday Market tomorrow. Ate from the side stalls which is nice and cheap! Got a Songathew back to the guest house.

Day 38 (Sunday 13th Jan 08)

Got up, had lunch and wandered around Tha Pae Gate looking at the market stalls already setup. Bought a couple of things and headed back to the guest house to drop off. Paid for the next weeks accommodation and booked our Jungle Trek for the next weekend. Headed into the rest of the Sunday Market looking around the thousands of side stalls with many amazing items for sale. Ate along the way at the side stalls which was really good. Saw the grasshopper, mole worm, crickets and chicken tendon for sale. We weren't brave enough to try but some other tourists were trying it. Yuk! Spent quite a bit of money on various things and back to the guest house to give our tired legs a rest.

Day 39 (Monday 14th Jan 08)

First early morning in a long time for our first day of our Thai cookery course. Met at the office and got transported to Sompon's House. Started with the vegetable carving. First got shown how to carve the vegetables. Then it was our turn to try! We made a tomato rose, tomato lotus and carrot leaf. It wasn't as easy as it looked! Think we need some practice. We then moved onto the cooking. Sompon showed us how to make a course and then it was our turn to make it. First off we made Minced Pork soup, then Spring Rolls, Roast Duck Red Curry and Chicken with Ginger Stir Fry before lunch. Lots to eat! (Em's first meat for ages!) After lunch we made Chicken in Papaya leaf and Sticky Rice with Mango for desert. Good day learning lots of new things but very filling! Got taken back to Tha Pae Gate at about 4pm and went back to the guest house. Didn't need anything much to eat that evening so just popped out for some ice cream!

Day 40 (Tuesday 15th Jan 08)

Another early morning! Again to the office and got taken to Sompon's House. To start with Sompon gave us an introduction to the ingredients used in Thai cooking, very informative. We then started cooking and made Hot and Spicy Shrimp soup (Tom Yam Kung) - we were given 3 chillies but Mark decided to use 7! very hot!, followed by Tha fish cakes, Chicken Green curry and Pad Thai before lunch. After lunch we then made Spicy Minced Chicken Salad and Water Chestnut with Coconut Cream. Another very good and informative day. Back to the guest house. Popped out for some soup later on as we were getting peckish. We then went back to the guest house but Em got a craving to go out for a nice cold beer at about 10pm so off we went again, even though we had already blown our budget by far by going on the cookery course.

Day 41 (Wednesday 16th Jan 08)

Lazy morning as the last 2 mornings have been early! Went for some lunch and then walked around the Old City going to see some of the Wats. Amazing architecture and got some good pictures. Em hot walking around covered up though! After a long afternoon walking around came to the internet cafe to freeze in the air con updating our blog! Went out for something to eat late at the Coffee House and then back to the guest house.

Day 42 (Thursday 17th Jan 08)

Another early start for our last day on the cookery course. Met at the office and got taken to the market for a tour. Informative tour around the market while the tutor was describing the ingredients. Then got taken to Sompon's House, made Chicken Coconut Soup, Pork Thick Noodle Gravy, Red Curry Fish and Vegetable Stir-Fry. After lunch made Spicy Papaya Salad and Steamed Banana Cake in Banana leaf. Very good day of cooking. Went back to the guest house and later decided to go and get something to eat from the side stalls. Em had some vegetable noodles but Mark thought he would try the Fishballs with noodles. Back to the guest house.

Day 43 (Friday 18th Jan 08)

Woke up and started packing up our stuff as going Trekking tomorrow so everything needed to be in our bags again. Got all of our stuff together to post back home. Went to ask at DHL and post office how much to send our parcels home and decided to go with the post office. Took a while to pack everything and fill out the forms etc. Just hope that it actually arrives home! Mark not feeling very well by this point so sitting outside. One it was all sorted went to find somewhere for some late lunch. Mark really not feeling good now! Went to a little place we had been a few times but Mark unable to eat. Popped to the market for some fruit but then back to the guest house where Mark was sick. Early evening knew there was going to be no chance Mark could do 2 days trekking so went and cancelled so we could book when he is feeling better. Spent the rest of the evening in the guest house.

Day 44 (Saturday 19th Jan 08)

Stayed in today as Mark not feeling very well. Popped to the Herb Garden for something for lunch and popped out in the evening for something to eat but Mark struggling.

Day 45 (Sunday 20th Jan 08)

Mark still not feeling good. Popped out for some lunch and bought some books from Gecko books. Sat outside in the communal area reading and got chatting to an interesting aussie guy. Went for a wander round the Sunday Market in the evening but Mark still not right so weren't out for long.

Day 46 (Monday 21st Jan 08)

Mark feeling a bit better today but still not 100%. Stayed in most of the day and then popped out to the market. Went out in the evening and ate at a good vegetarian place and then ventured down to the night baazar. Lots to buy and Em couldn't resist! Too many nice clothes! Oopps! Had a good walk and some Mango and sticky rice then for a beer and back to the guest house.

Day 47 (Tuesday 22nd Jan 08)

Got up and went out for some lunch, found a good cheap place across the road. We then went to the internet cafe where we spent the rest of the afternoon updating the blog, uploading photos and replying to emails. Went for something to eat and a beer. Back to the guest house and booked our trekking for tomorrow and then chilled out. Got our stuff ready for trekking and didn't get an early night as planned!

Day 48 (Wednesday 23rd Jan 08)

Up very early for our free breakfast provided by the guest house for the trekking and had a chat with Roger and Tony. Got picked up at about 8:30am, already one couple had been picked up and we went on to pick up another 2 couples. Our guide then introduced himself to us all as Rambo - don't think that was his real name his just liked it! We drove for about an hour to get to the elephant camp for the elephant riding. Had an interesting toliet stop and then a scary elephant ride! We were took around a set route on the elephants and there was a guide sat infront on each elephant. Our elephant decided he didn't want to stick to the path and as we went up the steep hill he decided he would like some of the bamboo that was growing down the side of the steep hill and started trying to walk off. Luckily the guide managed to get the elephant to reverse but was very scary!! Next we got taken to the bamboo rafting, it is basically a big water fight in the river! We were told not to take anything including cameras and we soon understood why. The 8 of us were split into 2 groups of 4 and the girls were to sit down in the middle so they were wet straight away and then the guys stand at either end. Em was soaked first as Paul on our raft decided it would be fun to try and make the raft tip over. The guide on the other raft then thought it was funny to soak Em with the bamboo used for pushing the raft along. It wasn't long before Mark got soaked as he slipped over when he was trying to soak the other raft. It was a very good water fight but left us soaked for the rest of the day! We were then taken for lunch which was very good and then to the Karen Hill Tribe to start our walking after being shown around. A good afternoon of walking and beautiful scenery. Lots of single bamboo bridges! Walked down to a waterfall which was pretty amazing but the water was too dirty to swim in as they had been digging further up stream. We felt we had already had a swim that day though! After all the walking we had another hour and a half drive back and went for something to eat. A very good day!!

Day 49 (Thursday 24th Jan 08)

Had a chill out day today. Em reading her book and Mark watching the TV. Went out for lunch and then packed our bags. We then went back to the bookshop to sell back the books we had finished and buy some more. Went out for something to eat. We are both really craving some home cooking now so finding it difficult. Think we have been eating too much rice and vegetables or noodles and vegetables. Had a good pizza tonight! Went back to the guest house to chill out and play lots of UNO! Heard some guy outside the rooms letting everyone know about what he had just paid for and the troubles him and his mates seemed to be getting for being involved in it!