With the recession in full swing and no luck on the job front, I spent a night on the streets of Birmingham (Tuesday 4th August) in the hope of getting a STA £10 pom ticket to Oz .. unfortunately not but finally I found a good deal so the night wasn't a complete waste. With flights booked and inital plan formulated I have just over 8 weeks to get organised and prepared! Thailand for a month first - a day or two in Bangkok, then a GAP trek north from Chang Mai to hilltribe villages, back to Bangkok then south to see the beaches and islands.