As we left Malaysia behind we re-entered Thailand at the busiest time of the Thai calendar - Thai New Year and Songkram water festival. Hoping to 'wing' it up to Ao Nang, Krabi the same day, we had a few hiccups but eventually made it late that night.

We were lucky enough to see two sets of people from home in one day! Russell (Jim's good friend from SW) and his girlfriend Shelley were out in Thailand for 2 months and we found them propping up a cocktail bar that night. After more than a few catch-up drinks, we decided to head to Railey Beach together the next day. This is a limestone island off Krabi made up of 4 beaches. Slightly hungover and having to negotiate the waves whilst climbing into longtail boats with our backpacks, we made the short journey to Railey West.

Tyically the weather was gorgeous again (sorry!) so we spent days either on the beach or abusing Russ & Shelley's infinity pool at their lovely hotel before going back to our cheapy bungalow!

After the drought in Malaysia we were re-united with Sang-Som (potent Thai rum) and Jim finished off the night solo on the non-existent dance floor! After a night just like this, the boys had the bright idea to get up early and climb in to the limestone cave to see the lagoon inside. After all the recent rain & seeing the state of it, Caroline decided to leave her climbing behind her in Nepal & Shelley stayed in bed, leaving the fools to it!

2 hours later the boys returned caked in wet red clay and slightly green-gilled from the night before. We were so glad we hadn't attempted it, it wasn't the easiest climb, using fixed ropes and having to support your own body weight whilst finding invisibe foot-holes in the wet slippery mud...not good.

Jim had arranged to go fishing in Bangkok with Eddie (who first took him fishing 4 years ago), but it was touch & go whether we would get up there due to the violent protests going on. The Foreign office told us to stay away as live rounds were being used and there were road-blocks alll over the city. But luckily in the nick of time it all stopped & we were safe to go. So we said goodbye to Russ & Shelley for the time being and headed off on our 16 hour journey back to Bangkok - the things we do for fishing!

The usual buzz of Bangkok and the Kaoh San Road were gone and a huge army presence made it a bit daunting. We just wanted to fish'n'go! As you'll see from the pictures and videos (soon) Jim and Eddie hooked into plenty of Mekong Catfish, although ofcourse the big one got away! Wiggsy even wet a line and got bent in to a Mekong before screaming she was going to get dragged in!

The morning after we were walking towards the Kaoh San Road when we saw the aftermath of an attempted assasination that had happened whilst we were fishing. The leader of the yellow party's car had taken over 100 bullets and how he survived it is a miracle. The car was armoured but they'd used machine guns and the windscreen was peppered with bullet holes. Although the Thai's are really relaxed and told us 'No problem, no worries', the fact that this was so close to a tourist area unnerved us and we decided to get out once again. To the islands we must go!

We first headed to Koh Tao and then island-hopped to Koh Samui as we also had a slight visa problem and were told Samui would be the answer! It's been 7 years since we were both here and it was fairly developed then, but we weren't quite expecting this much! If you want pumping nightlife and Western food then it's perfect, but as you brave your way along Chaweng strip you could be anywhere. You know something's gone wrong when there are posters celebrating the fact that there are now 3 branches of McDonalds on the island & 24 hour Burger King deliver! Saying that, the rest of the island is still beautiful and Chaweng beach is nothing like the town, still white soft powder sand and not back-to-back sun beds like we were expecting, so we're still enjoying it.

The Thai governement have clamped down on tourist visas to stop illegal workers doing 'border runs' to stay in Thailand....big pain for travellers. It used to be as soon as you crossed the border you get 30 days free again when you go back in, but they've changed it to 15 now which is what we were given when we came in from Malaysia. The immigration office on Samui charge a fortune to get an extension so we have now decided to head to the Burmese border on Friday so that we don't get fined or have to leave so soon.

Before that though we are off fishing again!! Whilst we are on Samui we are heading to a fishing resort that Jim has been looking at for the past year - Top Cats. He's still hoping for that Arapaima so wish us luck for tomorrow. Again I'm being dragged along but I don't mind this time as it has a swimming pool!

We'll be in touch again soon after our next lot of travelling. We're hoping to go to Koh Lanta before we have to head to Singapore and have to start thinking about working again in Oz....it's going to be a struggle!!