Hey all!!

Been a while again!!

So we went to Singapore, stayed there a week and really enjoyed it! Its a really cool City, very clean and very safe. We stayed in Little India, which really did feel like actually being in India! We had a cool hostel- G4 Station, which was right by the MRT (underground) station, which made it very easy to get around. It was wet season though, so rained alot, which made the MRT even more handy!

We saw Orchard Rd, a massive shopping road in Singapore, its like the Vegas of shopping malls, a whole street, filled with loads of massive shopping malls, all trying to outdo each other with themes etc! We were also there when the xmas lights were turned on, which felt weird, as it was so hot- still doesnt feel christmas-y at all yet!

We visted a few temples in singgo, and went to all the areas, chinatown etc, it was good fun! We also went to a theme park type place called Sentosa, and saw an amazing light and laser show, which was really good fun.

After Singgo we went to Bangkok, which was a real eye-opener! Very hectic, busy and humid! We were there about a week, in a real fancy hotel, and enjoyed just making the most of the fancy comforts. The hotel had a free beer hour every night, so we made the most of that too.... Thai beer is strong, about 6%, so all good!!

We went to the Grand Palace there, which was amazing, did a boat trip to get there, which was good too. Visted a few of the famous Wats (temples) too, which were huge and amazing, god knows how they built them!!- actually, maybe that should be "buddha" knows!! They love buddha, there are statues everywhere!

We also visited some of the (in)famous areas around Bangkok, like Soi Cowboy, and Nana plaza. If you dont know what they are- google them!! They were funny and an eye-opener too.... some fun bars there tho!! ;- )

We also spent Lisa's birthday there- she had a good day, had a haircut, a thai massage and then we went to a really cool restuarant called "Cabbages & Condoms" where a percentage of the bill goes to the aids foundation, which is cool. At the end of the meal, instead of a mint, you get a condom!! random! Was a really nice restaurant, we sat outside and there were fairy lights everywhere- quite romantic!

On the food front, we both love Thai food, so its been great!! its all cheap too, get a meal for about 1 or 2 pound. again, good stuff! tried various different foods, and most are good- and spicy!! We have eaten in restaurants, cafes, and from food stalls- the stalls are really good- we had some great fried chicken in Bangkok from a little stall, it put KFC to shame!! Again, cos of the season, we had some heavy downpours, and at one point, our whole road was flooded, we had to wade through water to get back to our hotel!! crazy!!

We also did a fair amount of shopping, in markets and shopping centers, they all love to haggle, so we have been getting used to that- kinda fun too! Most of the time its done on a calculator, they put in a price, then give it to you, where you put in a lower price- and you kinda keep going til you reach a price you agree on!! very funny, but can get annoying too!!

After Bangkok, we got an overnight train to Chaing Mai, something I was looking forward to, and it was good fun!! You get a seat each, opposite each other, then when you are ready to sleep, the attendant comes round, and converts the seats into beds!! The 2 seats somehow make a bottom bunk, and a top bunk comes down seemingly out of knowhere!! you get a little curtain round you, and its all kinda good fun!!

Chiang Mai is a really cool place, we both loved it here- slightly less toursisty than BK, and more chilled out. There are no taxis as such, just old like stationwagon things, with roofs, and no back door, and benches down each side facing each other, to sit in!! random!! was funny clambering in at the train stattion with our bags etc!! they are called Songthaew and are hard to explain, try looking it up online for a better explanation...

In Chiang mai they have a night bazzar everynight, and a sunday market, and we spent lots of time in those, just wandering round and occasionally practicing our haggling skills, and getting a few xmas presents!!

We also did a day tour, that went to an elephant farm, and included an elephant ride/trek, unforrtunately the animals were not treated well, and the whole thing left us feeling really bad and wishing we hadnt done it. The tour did alos a include a trip to a hilltriibe- on that uses rings to make there necks longer, that was interesting to find out about their way of life, and we found that the rings dont stretch their necks, they actually push their shoulders down, making their necks appear longer. We then went to a buttefly house and an Orchid house. both quite interesting.

Oh, and we did a fish spa- with some fish called "doctor fish" where you put your feet in a big tank, and these fish eat off all the dead skin!! really strange and tickly, put it worked!! our feet were lovely and soft and pretty after!! ;- )

Found a really cool bar/restaurant we liked, so eat there (and drank!) a few times. We also had some Thai Whiskey, its made from rice and is very strong! good stuff tho, we have a bottle with us now!! ;- )

We are now in Phuket, flew here from Chiang Mai and its cool. Unfortunately, its peak season here, and Phuket is very touristy, so its busy, and prices are higher, and there are so many europeans here, we keep forgetting we are in Thailand!! Its nice, tho reminds me a bit of Greece, for some reason, lots of restaurants and bars, and a lovely pretty beach. We have been here 3 nights, and are not sure how long we will stay, we are weighing up wither staying here another week, or moving on to Krabi.

So far we havent done too much, had a nice hotel with a pool, so done some chilling and swimming in the pool, or led on the beach relaxing. Done some eating and drinking too- but drinking is dearer here- so have cut back a bit!!

Not long til we come home now, its getting close!! mixed emotions really- be nice to be home, but be sad at the same time!!

see you all soon!!

keep it real.