Sorry no spell check - if you cant work it out guess- will keep the excitement.

All in all the journey getting to bangkok went really well. Did a movie marathon on the first flight 4 films in total as I didn't seem to be able to sleep. Time passsed quite quickly and the people around me were very nice. When we landed in Mumbai the heat was mental - still in the middle ofthe night but it must have been about 25 degrees. International transfers was completely heaving and loads of people had wanted to connect with flights within 2 hours, but from the start of the line to the end of the proces took about an hour and a half so many were having kittens about missing their onward flights. Not me though. I was convinced this was a stroke of luck as I saw it as having something constructive to do with at least a section on my 13 hour stopover. I love India- They have sytems that dont ever seem to work and the people are lovely and its chaos, and it smells like a lovely dusty rice pudding. Nothing cant be put right with a nice big smile and a head wobble in India.

I managed to find a quiet spot and read for most of the time. I did find a nice little corner later on with big chairs and got about 3 hours sleep. Afterwards I discovered there was a bit of an issue with cockroaches, but was just pleased I found out once I had got some sleep. All the way through this stopover there was bad piped christmas music in the airport- it was being played on a sitar I think and something that sounded like a nasal sounding Oboe. Made me feel like I was in an indian die hard movie. Managed to get through all the marmite sandwiches I had packed and had a few lovely cups of Chai to go with leaving me rearing to go for flight number 2 Mumbai to Bangkok.

At Bangkok, once I got through busy airport without too much fuss and arrived at hotel to check in and meet my roommate. She's called Joanne and is a middle aged nurse from Arizona. She seems nice. I think I made her blink a bit as I was a bit wired by the time I gotr to the hotel and I think I asked too may questions. Found something for dinner - bangkok streetfood - Noodles and BBQ pork. In hindsight the BBQ pork was a brave choice but I was excided and fearless given the amount of poohpills I had and the worming tablet that Louise and Justin got me for christmas. ANyway nothing bad happened so all good. Called home from the bar to great news re Dad's hospital. Huge relief and cellebrated with Chang beer.

Next Day, Day in Bangkok- managed to see What Po (relciming Budda), Royal palace (emerald Budda), and a nice load about near Khau San Road (on Matts reccomendation). Nice day, realy very hot.

Overnight Bus to Chaing Mai. This as quite bad. Supposed to be on train but it was cancelled so had to find alternative. Bus a bit grim, noisy and rattly, and full to the raffters with people and mossies. I have been eaten a live becuase I had to stow my big bag with the repellant under the bus. Learning by doing. 14 hour journey so suck in earplugs and on with eyemask by 6.30pm. didn't remove till 6.30am - Best presant so far those sleepaids.

So today have just arrived in chaing Mai and had a walk around with some of the people I'm traveling with - mainly went round temples, buit I soon had enough of that so I have broken free and I'm currently ferral in CHaing Mai. Think I'm going to head off and have a massage. My feet are swollen after being trapped in my feat on the bus, so I'm goign to inflict them on some poor unsuspecting Thai lady to rub for me. I feel a heafty tip coming on!

I have a day and a half here, then moving on towards the Laos Border. Its a nice town from what I can see so far. Very chilled out. Its a citidel with really old walls- I should know more but I havn't done my reading yet. I am in a place called Chiang Kong tomorrow evening so that is where I will be seeing the new year in. I will see it 7 hours before you so I will wish you a very happy new year now.

Hope you are all well and sending much love

H xxxx