Arrived in Bangkok safe and sound on Wednesday night and got taxi to Khaosan Rd where we met Tracy & Jade 2 of the girls I met at the rescue centre last year which is lucky cos I would never have found hotel down the back alley it was in! Hotel was OK but room super small - only there to sleep though so all fine. Flight up to Chiang Rai was a little bumpy due to the rainy weather in Bangkok.

Arrived in Chiang Rai and got to hotel, went for a wander with Camille while TRacy went back to the room not well with anti malarial tablets (fingers crossed I have been fine so far). Very few farangs in Chiang Rai, really quiet and laid back. After the compulsory afternoon nana nap we went to the night market and then out for dinner and pancake from a street stall.

This morning started off with buffet breakfast then said goodbye to Tracy until we meet up again on Monday after coming out of the jungle when we finish the Gibbon experience. Caught the most unbelievable bus to Chiang Khong (you will have to see pictures to believe it - wooden floor boards that move, holes in the body and the aircon was leaving the doors open). Crossed the border into Laos at lunchtime, tuk tuk from bus then longtail boat over the river. By the time we arrived we just went to the first place with air con and thats where we are staying tonight. Very small town, a few westerners have emerged tonight but we were it for most of the day. Walked up to the temple where the novice monks are and got shown around by a couple of boys trying to learn english. Mojito before dinner then along the road to a place over the river. We had just fiished dinner when the wind got up and the rain came out of nowhere, only lasted about 30 monutes but my god I have never seen anything like it!

Off to the jungle tomorrow so will try and update you soon. Sorry for the disjointed entry but the "fast" internet connection here is somewhat dodgy and I am just hoping this will work.