So back to Ko Samui! Im running very behind schedule now as we're actually half way through our stay in Ko Phi Phi now! But alas, I will let ou in on the rest of the Ko Samui adventures! So, as the postcard pic indicates, we went to a Lady-Boy show one night on the island, called 'Amsterdam'! A far cry from the sights encountered in the Dutch capital (thankfully). It was such a laugh, really good fun! Definately take a look over the photo albulm! Most of the women looked so glamourous, putting us girls to shame with our stragly rain drenched hair and plain shorts and tops! Also, I have to say most were far more volumtious than us! There was one really hilarious act where this guy played all these women, treating them as the love of his life then tossing them (rather violently at times, think the drama got to him a little too much) to the floor as an even more beautiful woman came along. In the end, the star of the show, Ming, very much our favourite, kicked HIM to the floor and celebrated witth the other girls at her defiance of this treatment. The end of the act came when another of the guys in the show consoled the rejected casanover and kissed him very passionately, to the girls' mocked horror. Very funny. The costumes were also really amazing, especially with all the feathers. Between the main acts a guy would come on, occasionally with backing 'singers' and mime to a boy bands pop song. A little odd we found to begin with as he wasnt dressed particuarly flashly, bar the glittered hair, and well we looked on with wonderment at the substance of the act! All we could gather is that he did indeed put a lot of emotion into the mime (although at times lost the timing of the words). See pics! All in all a very good night. Also had the best feta, olive and salad baguette from an Aussie place the twins found, for dinner. Was devine! Other things we got up to in Ko Samui.... Had another massage. Mine an oil and Nickis a Thai one (had already sampled the native verison on the treck, so felt had done my cultural duty!) I have to say each massage in this country seems to push my limits of how much (of my own) body I can handle being exposed. COmfort limits seriously challenged! This time , (I dont actually know who wants to her this! skip next paragraph if you wish!) it was to put it bluntly, my arse, completely on show to the general public. Oh yes, this was an outdoors massage on the beach! Oh dear god. And before anyone says, oh yeh it probably wasnt as much as you think, no no, Nicki had a good view when she turned over and it was ALL of it. I just closed my eyes and turnded away from the path of any passers by, willing self to be totally fine and dandy with the change in massage area. Ok, enough said about that I feel! Just wanted to share my humiliation with all of you! The marine national park- a potentially productive (how crazy!) day on a gorgeous boat owned by one of the main French guys running Papillon. Really really lovely boat. And it started off so nicely, sun beating down, relaxing on deck with a good book soaking up the tan. However, the Thai weather had other ideas, as had been the case throughout our stay, and consequently let the heavens open for the remainder of the day. I also felt very sea sick and had to be drugged into a near coma, to ride out the worst of the storm. We did come across a really beautiful cove and lagoon. Picture perfect images. Which made the ordeal worthwhile. To be fair it wasnt that much of an ordeal, as we did catch up on, or rather stock up on quite a bit of sleep. (We were fully rested before the trip after our very lazy days spent at the hotel and beach.) Pics of the lagoon will be up soon, as waiting fopr them to be emailed to us from the very nice French passengers who dared to take their cameras on the rickety speed boat to the island. So final escapade (I think) was the 'safari' we went on for our last full day on Ko Samui. It consisted of another elephant ride (how we love those, although after reading Anneka's email about touring the ruins of Angkor Wat on the back of one of the gorgeous creatures, I feel I have been outdone!) Then we had to sit through wht I can only describe as torturous, a show with monkeys and baby elephants. Oh god, when I get home Im going to find animal rights groups based in Thailand to support. It made me sick to the stomach, especially as we had paid to see this and thus weer fuelling this animal maltreatment. Our only consolations were that the keepers seemed to be kind to the elephants, espeically as Im thinking because the animals carry religious significance. Also at least they were out and about and not chained to the spot the whole time as we have seen in some places. Really really horrid. The rest of the day was very pleasant, tasting Thai fruit, enjoying a nice traditional Thai lunch, being scooted around in a jeep ( a far cry from the treck in Chaing Mai), cooling off by a beautiful waterfull and riding on the top of the jeep, ducking foliage left right and centre. Lots of fun. For our last night on the island we booked ourselves a place at Olivio, a Lonely Planet recommended Italian restaurant. The food was to die for! Absolutely scrumptuos. The seeting beautiful, albeit a little too much emphasis on the romantic side as we found the majority of clientelle consisted of couples enjoying their meal over candlelight. We both enjoyed some great wine (has been missed), got very tipsy, and leisurely strolled along the moonlit, palm fringed beach, with waved lapping at our feet, back to our hotel. A little stress when returned as our washing wa still not ready (which made up pretty much all our clothes!), and had to wait an hour or two to collect them. Also recieved an emotionally charged call from home later that night, which meant my body being sacrificed to the mosquitos, as I didnt want to wake Nicki and couldnt locate the mossie repellant. I mention this last bit as my legs have literally been RAVEGED by the bloody critters and I am in constant agitiation from itchyness! I counted over 40 on just legs and feet and gave up at that number to find the specific amount. Id say prob around 50. I have taken pictures of my very ugly, mutilated legs and they will be posted soon, for you all to gape at. Ok, thats my bit of feeling sorry for myself over. Hopefully you will understand when you seen the photos! Until then, hope youre all having a good summer, enjoying the ill timed heat wave in the UK! Also, by the way, there is a message board on this website which as yet has remained quite bare through my Thai adventure. Messages are nice. G xxx