1st free day of the adventure today, so spending it relaxing by the pool. Catching up on some much needed sleep!

Had a great night out on the 13th, lots of drinking, and subsequently water fights. Found some great bar that does some really good homemade Thai whisky (big fan of whisky) so had rather a few shots of that. Got another game of pool in, won again! Which saved me buying at least one round of drinks.

Finished up around 4 at the bar, before cramming 6 of us into a tuk tuk for the quick taxi ride home. Standard dip in the pool afterwards, unbelievably warm as usual. Got to bed about 5 and was out cold.

Had a lie in the next day till 11, didn't have breakfast as that morning we had a Thai cooking lesson. Great fun, learnt how to make pad Thai, fried chicken and cashew nuts, and a Thai spicy soup. Was so full by the end of it as we ate everything we cooked. Got some great ideas for cheap food at uni!

Quick break before heading out to spend the day in kanchanaburi, for what was probably the best day of the trip so far.

They closed the big road down the centre of town for the huge water fight everyone was participating in. Really good day as the whole town came out to have fun. Walked to the bar we go to every night and camped out there all day, someone who previously went on this trip is now living and working there, and having 20 extra people in your bar is always good for business so they love us! Had 2 barrels of water continuously being filled with water, and periodically bought massive blocks of ice to put in the barrels - throwing ice cold buckets of water over random people is so fun.

As they had closed the road, the only cars going through were huge pick up trucks with loads of people in the back throwing water. Or suicidal motorbike drivers.

As well as the water lots of people bought coloured chalk, and mixed it with water to smear it in everyones face, all while politely wishing you a happy new year of course. This went on all day, with the bar pumping out great music, and everyone dancing and soaking each other. Finally started to get tired so made the error of going into the bar to dry off. Half fell asleep til everyone picked me up and soaked me again!

Walked back and fell into the pool for an hour. Then showered off ready to go out for my mission of trying all the different moonshine kanchanaburi has to offer! Very fun night chatting to everyone in the group after an excellent day. Despite it being new year, everyone was knackered, so called it a night about half 12, had been chatting to a taxi driver who gave us all a free lift home. Then spent about 2 hrs in the pool.

Woke up (no hangover whatsoever, despite drinking half a bottle of homemade Thai whisky) and came down for breakfast. Free day today, some of the group went to a floating market, others went to a 'tiger temple' where all the tigers just walk around freely (they're all tame) and you can take photos with them etc... Instead of being cultural or daring I sat by the pool writing my blog!

Do need to start tanning though. Been on factor 20 ever since we got here and still not even changed colour. Thankfully havnt burnt like a lot of people.

So because its our last night in kanchanaburi, the hostel we stay at has decided to throw a party (yay they're leaving! Think they like us really) so it's all you can eat and all you can drink tonight for £11!

Tomorrow we are moving onto sangkhlaburi, about a 3 hr bus rise, Its been described as a small village in a jungle, it doesn't have a pool, but a big lake instead.

Hoping its a nice place as were spending 13 nights there. We start our volunteer project there, which is apparently helping building houses.

Anyway, getting far too hot so going to have to have a dip in the pool!

For now,

Josh xx

Photo is of my awesome fishy 10B pot noodle I was about to enjoy on the balcony (about 25p?)