Part 40: Pit stop Bangkok..... I was filled with a little sadness as I bid farewell to Koh Samui and Oliver. He had been great company and a good friend. Especially after watching the Champions league final together with a raucous group of Bayern Munich fans celebrating in the streets - I wont forget that in hurry. The island has left a lasting impression on me for lots of reasons. There is this tendency from a lot of people to think that a place is bad if it...

Part 39: Night Life.... Later that evening I met my friend Oliver at the Arc bar, one of the busiest night spots in Samui. There was a pretty decent beach party here tonight, with a great vibe already building up as it filled up with a young crowd dancing to the pumping music. The DJ box was set high up overlooking the beach, there were fire jugglers, dancers and saxophone players free-styling to the music. People were dancing in the pool, on the sand and aro...

Part 38: cultural tour... My plan was to meet up with Oliver later that evening after I got back from the island tour. Then suddenly, and without warning whilst getting ready, all the lights went out in my accommodation - it was a complete black out! Turns out the whole islands power grid was down, in fact the whole south east coast of Thailand was effected. With no wifi or air con in my room, I decided to head out, but soon discovered it was pretty pointless...

Part 37: Island hopping.....* I'd spent the next few days doing pretty much nothing in Koh Samui but relaxing. Ironically after my previous talk of avoiding the comfort zone, this was as comfortable a zone as one could possibly get. No thinking or exploring, no running up mountains, no looking at my watch, just heavenly beaches, sun and everything I needed in close proximity all around me. But I surely earned the right to switch off and relax I feel, and why ...

Part 36: Koh Samui...... I loved absolutely everything about Chiang Mai so far. From the people, the food, the ambience, through to the scenery and wildlife. Its certainly a place that left a huge impression on me. Even though I'd not stopped from the second I got off the plane - there was far more that this beautiful district had to offer, and so much more exploration to be had. Admittedly my few days were no way near enough, and perhaps I should have booke...