Time to leave Pai and start heading over towards Laos. So on 23rd January I left Pai and headed over to Chiang Rai via Chiang Mai. For 150 bahts (£3) and a three hour minibus ride I was back in Chiang Mai and met up with Ole, who was also on his way towards Laos. We booked a bus for that afternoon to go to Chiang Rai which would be a two and a half hour trip over. The scenery heading east was pretty and very green. Eventually we made Chiang Rai and checked into ...

Oh dear, waking up with a cracking hangover the morning you're about to embark on the windiest journey is probably not the best idea, but yet I did. Before the minibus came to collect me I went off in search of coca cola, 7 Eleven toasties and water and downed a travel sickness pill and paracetamol. I surely must be able to tackle this journey now with it's 762 bends climbing up to the hippie town of Pai. Once changed minibuses at the bus station we were on the...

Finally got a move on and off to Northern Thailand it is. I was booked on the 10pm sleeper train to Chaing Mai and for second class it was pretty decent. A bed I could stretch out on (as previously said being a little on the short side this isn't much of a challenge), clean and comfy. I was instantly pounced on by the catering woman planning my breakfast but actually just wanted a b**** and a moan about Chinese tourists. The evening was a bumpy one and in bed it ...

So it's back to Bangkok for the third time. On the plane there I got chatting to a nice Canadian couple, Jenn and Warren who had just left Canada to travel for the next 3 months. We got on and swapped contact details to grab a beer together as we were going to be in north Thailand at the same time. I got to Bangkok airport and the queue for passport control was crazy, eventually after some time I got through and my bag was ready and waiting. It's a quick route ...

My next proper stop was Khao Sok National Park, with a one night pit stop in Krabi to break it up, where I was meeting up with Mark and Isabel who I'd met on Koh Lanta. I got to Khao Sok National Park on 8th December and the minivan driver was a little speedy Gonzales, are there not loads of Thai rally drivers? Judging by this guy if not, there should be! I checked into my little wooden shack at Palmview Resort and it was amazing. Set just outside the park grou...