Hi there Blogites in Internet land.....Sarah here.... we are kind of back on the mainland, landed but a bit dazed and confused. Fortunately, we have found a bed WITH springs and a HOT shower, so the reset button is slowly being pressed as we come back from island life, here in Hat Yai.

We have been on Ko ****** for er.... a week or so and had a wondeful time. well, time is relative as they say, but really, it is only now that I realise I have missed Amy's 30th, it is Carly Warly's 25th and my half birthday today. we can't tell you where we were as you might want to go there. Sadly, it has been taken over by farang (tourists) and the insatiable appetite of money and consumerism,. and this place of total tranquility and lushness is not gouing to be the same. we promised we wouldn't tell in a bid to slow it down, but its probably too late already, its another tacky Phuket catering to fat western demands of rich tourists. There is a division between the three week package holiday folk, who 'need' western food, comfy beds and hot water. And transport across the island, a translation, creche and all the comforts of home. I know I said Iwas gald to have some leccy and water, but I wasn't expecting any, and we didn't complain. electricity was a luxury that happened between 6pm and 6 am, mostly, it might go on and off a bit, but it all made it more fun! I think much of the backpacker crowd just have lower expectations of that stuff, and couldn't afford it anyway!

There is nowt wrong with needing all these things, and I'm all for positive development and embracing change, but the cost is very clear here, and the local sea gypsies (Chao Leh) are having to adapt, change and share their island with loads and loads of prospectors, people buying up their land left, right etc, and traditional ways of life are dissapearing to the coke t-shirts.....

Anyway, what did we do? well, Em did island exploring, found amazing beaches and coves of untold beauty. True to form, photos to follow. we have found the only internet cafe in this 'city', and it has no CD drive. Sorry folks, you'll just have to log on tomorrow! Anyway, the piccies are great. I achieved a great ambition, and did my PADI open water diver course, and am now a proper qualified diver girl! What an amazing, incredible experience. I will never be able to really describe it to you, but its another world down there! The colours, the coral, the sheer flippin' size of it all, and then all of the amazing creatures that live there. I saw Nemo lots of times, living in this bobbly wibbly wobbly colourful blobs of coral, lion fish, who don't roar, but could hurt ya, moray eels, who could hurt you, but would rather stay under a rock, and all kindsa of amazing wildlife, including 'Nudi branches'. Do any of you know what that is? 100 baht for anyone who does! Special interactive part to this blog today!

Anyway, as i said, photos to follow, and I did ask a person at the dive shop to take piccies on the underwater camera, so you get proper piccies of me doing my underwater assessments, yes, that's right, I actually had to do stuff, exams, reading and be a compent fish like person! I have a temporary card, so will be able to continue in Malaysia, Oz and NZ. The Shark threat, which is a theme of this adventure, is more real the further south we go, if we had stayed, I would have done the 8 mile rock trip I think, where you get Whale sharks and Leopard sharks, and big, big rays - not a problem, but further south i believe they get a lot bigger and a bit more troublesome.

The people - again, travellers, locals etc were proper friendly, and really, really gorgeous, I can't speak highly enough of them. As we left, people we hadn't met or spoken to, just seen around said bye, happy travels, see you again, all this kind of stuff.....

Anyway, next up, were off to Malaysia, finally cross the border and spend 2-3 weeks there. we are heading straight for the Cameron Highlands, for some land based fun and exloration. I hear they do cream teas where we are staying! We saw christmas deccies yesterday for the first time in a cafe, I guess the xmas onslaught is in full throttle over there, hope you are all feeling the vibe. In thailand, it has been the King's birthday. The king is a really, really big deal here, and in fact all civil servants and most of the population wear yellow on Monday to show love for the king - honestly. If the anthem plays (8 am and 6pm in train stations and on tv) people stand and sing along. We'll get some pictures of this too!

Anyway, get back to work you people, and watch out for the Ko Lipe pictures coming up. There, I said it, but its a secret! Missing our friends, Ror - if you evergo there, say a proper goodbye, you would never, ever return. Honest, reggae bar 3m away from the lapping tide, right on the beach, and well, its not cheap, but the people are well worth staying for,...... first place I really felt we were leaving, not just moving on from.....

OK, big love to everyone, and keep the xmas feeling going, its all about the love! Share it around, and send us a meessage!

we miss you all, and as I said, check out the Nudi Branches!

Sarah and Em too XXX