Hope you all had a great Christmas and Boxing Day. I am in Karon beach, Phuket. Have been unable to date for a while as have been traverling or the internet has been down. Here it goes. Wednesday afternoon. From the Burma border we had lunch over looking the Golden Triangle (Burma, Thailand and Laos). I was the only one who wanted to do the boat ride to Laos and luckily the other 4 I was sharing a taxi/truck didnt mind waiting for me. I think they had a mooch around the Opium Museum, whilst the others went on to the hotel. Mind you, by this point in the trip I would have gone regardless. After missing out on a waterfall trip earlier on, because only a few of us wanted to do it and we were meant to be seeing one on the Trek, (which never actually appeared). I made a choice not to miss out on the things I wanted to do. Also some of the people in the group were starting to get on my nerves as all they seemed to want to do was mooch around or sleep. There are new places to see, people to meet and experiences to have. You can sleep later! Ok. Rant over. So, took a long speed boat from Thailand over to (the waters of) Burma and then to Laos. Only took about 25 mins but was great. Just me and the driver (not sure what you call a Thai long speed boat operator) speeding over the waters in a Long boat. For a moment felt like I was in Miami Vice. Except the driver was no Colin Farrell. Laos was sureal. It was just touristy trash/tack stalls. At the end of these was a path, so I decided to follow it, and after 2 mins was completely on my own following a dust/sand path surround by jungle. Well, jungle maybe a slight drama, but it was certainly very green and lush everywhere. The path went on and eventualy came to a dried up river bed which had what looked like a couple of deserted farm vehicals left there. Crossed the river and carried on walking for about 10 mins, the only sounds being crickets, bugs etc. Until all of a sudden I was at a main road and a truck with about 20 people hanging of the back whizzed by leaving a trail of dust for miles. It was really sureal. At one point, and, yes, I do know it is the wrong country, but I half expected to see Martin or Charlie Sheen jump out at me on the way kill Marlon Brando or something. Hmmm. It was a very hot day, and I may not have drunk enough water or got enough sleep the night before, either that or I watch waaay to may films ;-) When I made it back to the trashy stalls the boat man was looking franticaly looking for me and we sped back to Thailand, where the other 4 were waiting and waving for me on the steps down to the boat, which I thought was sweet. Arrived in Chiang Rai a couple of hours latter and was staying in a really nice hotel which had a telly and everything. Strange thing is I hadnt missed tv at all in the last 2 weeks, but as soon as I entered the room it was the first thing I put on. It only had Thai channels! The whole group went out for a meal in the evening which was nice, but, the SA couple (mainly) just talked to themselves in Africana, and you could tell that as the trip was coming to an end that most of the people couldnt be bothered to make an effort with them anymore. Nice to see it wasnt just me who didnt like them. Then on to the night markets where we split up as some wanted to see the Ladyboy show that was on the stage in the centre of the market. Why????????????????? The Chiang Rai market does not compare to the night markets in Chiang Mai. The people are not as friendly, it is a lot more expensive, and they dont like to haggle! Thursday I didnt feel all that great on Thursday so, as it was a free day decided to sleep in and have an easy day. Most of the others were going to some hot springs, but really couldnt be bothered to be social. So was up and out by midday and just walked around Chiang Rai. Saw a couple of (suprise, suprise) Temples, checked out the shops had leg/back massage, which wasnt relaxing as ignorant ass of a man sitting next to me kept shouting down his phone, then when he had finished and I was just drifting in that place between awake and dreams he lets out the loudest roof ratterling snore I have ever heard. Arse! I think this was my PMT day! Then spent a pleasant couple of hours (in the afternoon) in a bar drinking fruit shakes and reading my book. Wild ay! Mooched around the night market in the evening looking for something for Pei-Ju as it was her 30th birthday the following day. I ended up buying her this funky (in the good way) scarf that was made in Thailand (I hope), as the weather will be freezing when she arrives back in Ottawa. Then to bed for an early night. Friday Up and out by 8.30 as had a 3 hour bus journey to Chiang Mai. After the last bus journey everybody got together and paid for an upgraded bus. This was a private bus which only had us and another Intrepid tour on it, and was non stop to Chaing Mai. Had a video and everything on it. Only problem was it showed Mr Bean non stop for 3 long hours. Had 3 hours to spare in Chiang Mai, so had one last wander around to say good bye. And then had a very nice lunch with Pei-Ju at a great veggie place I discovered the first time I was here (about 10 days ago). Then it was a fun packed 12 1/2 hours on the night train back to Bangkok, which wasnt as bad as last time as there was no bugs (that I saw), and I didnt make the mistake of looking around too much when I went to bed, so couldnt see how dirty it was. Spent most of the time chatting to Pei-Ju or reading my book. Saturday. Arrived in Bangkok at 6:30. Was told we couldnt check into rooms untill 10:00 so had breakfast with Pei-Ju and Margaritta down the Khao San Road, which at the time was dead apart from a few drunk backpackers staggering back to their hostels. Went back to the hotel at 8:30, said goodbye to Pei-Ju who was on her way to Tiawan (to see her folks), and luckily got the only room that was ready. Had a shower (washed the night train off me) and then jumped in a taxi to the Bangkok weekend markets which are just massive. So huge in fact that if you didnt buy somehting when you saw it, you would never find it again. It just went on and on and on. I found it a little overwhelming to be honest. I didnt really like the market, it didnt have any soul to it and was just stall after stall selling the same thing over and over. and at one point I got stuck in a row of stalls selling animals, cats, dogs, mini or baby rabbits (freaky looking things whatever they were). And couldnt get out, so had to push myself through everyone. Ended buying nothing, and jumped in a taxi back to the Khao San Road, which was now lined with stalls both sides of the street selling clothes. I decided I was to hot and tired to walk about all day and jumped in a taxi to go to the cinema at Central Plaza, (well, it has been over 3 weeks). My God. Central Plaza mall is on another scale to any mall I have ever been to before. It is just so god damn big. Imagine Lakeside and Blue Water combined and then over and over and over again. It is huge. Took me 20 mins to find the cinema box office and then another 15 mins to find the cinema which was only one flight of steps up. The food court alone sold everything from Thai to Pizza to Pancakes to Bugs to Sushi to any type of food you could think of. Now, I think the cinema may have spoilt me for all future cinema visits. Romford Vue it isnt. I got a Gold ticket as the only film showing in standard screens was the Christmas one with Jack Black and Kate Winslet in and it would have felt to weird to watch anything Christmasy. The gold ticket cinema was upstairs and I was greeted at the door and shown to my seat, where I could have drinks/food etc brought to me at anytime in the film if I wanted (you had to pay for it of course). The cinema had a huge surround screen and 3 rows of 10 seats. Now, I say seats, but they were more like lazyboy recliners with a blanket and pillow on them. The back row was full and I was the only one in my row so when the film started I moved to the middle reclined my chair, curled my legs up, propped myself up on 4 pillows with one behind my head and covered myself from head to toe with 2 blankets (the air con was on max). Very happy viewing indeed.I may even have nodded off at one point as woke up with drool on my chin - but that maybe because of Daniel Craig. Oh forgot to mention that at the start of the film the Thai national anthem is played over various images of the King (they really love the dude) and everybody has to stand up. Luckily I had been warned of this, so didnt get comfy until after. Ohhh, and in case you were wondering what film I watched. well, it was Bond. Yes, I have seen it before, but never in such toasty comfort ;-) On my way out of the mall I treated myself to a pair of Ray Ban sun glasses. Well, I say Ray Ban, but at the price I think they maybe slightly same same but different. If you know what I mean ;-) \ I was meant to meet with the group for a farewell dinner, but, by the time the film fininshed it was to late, so jumped in yet another taxi to the Khao San Road (again), which was now filled with stalls in the road selling everything from food to dodgy designer trainers, to cd's to cocktails on the street. The bars were full and people were everywhere. Had a happy wander up and down the street. The atmosphere is so different at night. It is alive and vibrant. Really cool. Treated myself to 4 Kamikazi's whislt wandering. 1 pink, 1 yellow, 1 blue and 1 lilac - which just looked wrong, but tasted gggreat. Also ended up treating myself to a henna tattoo, but think this was down to the Kamazi's. Eventualy made it back to the hotel after nearly being ripped of by a taxi driver who had know idea where he was going and after 15 mins of driving around in circles and asking people if they knew where the hotel was I had enough and jumped out of the cab, with him grabbing my bag, and trying to pull me back in and pay him for getting me lost! I dont think so! Managed to find my own way and staggerd back on my own, A really cool day. Off to Phuket in the morning.