Now where do we start with Phi phi... We have loved every minute of it here over christmas!! It is the most beautiful Island, with two mainlands joint by a huge strip of sand commecting the two. The centre strip is where all the bars, shops and restaurants are. There are two Islands, one is habitabal, Phi Phi Don, which is where we were staying and the other is Phi Phi Leh, which is uninhabitabal and is part of the marine national park where the Beach was filmed...

After a long a horrible journey in the back of a cramped old minivan we arrived in Phuket around 6pm. We had booked really nice accomodation over crimbo and New year as a treat and this was our first night of 3 weeks of nice hotels, we were so happy. Jez and Wilba stayed in another very nearby which was also nice. It was so good having air con, a fridge and fresh towels/hot water!!, instead of our usual little wooden huts with mosquito's everywhere haha. Don't ge...

Once on the boat to Koh Phangan we checked the lonely planet to check out some accomodation. We didn't want to be directly on the full moon Haad Rin Beach as we had heard there are often alot of thefts on the full moon party night so we stayed just around the corner at Leela beach front bungalows. This beech was amazing, absolute paradise. It was quiet and secluded, and the bay was beautiful with a huge wooden decking pier around the coast to another hotel which ...

Thankfully the journey from Koh Tao to Koh Samui was nothing like Chumpon to Koh Tao!! There was no 4 metre waves, no sea sickness, and we were flowing with the current which made things alot faster. We were really looking forward to Koh Samui as this is where we were meeting Jez and Wilba. Jez had arrived the day before so had already sorted us out with some cheap accomodation - which was pleasing as its always a hassle trying to find new accomodation. Jez met...

Monday 1st December 2008 - PADI Open water Course Today we arrived in Koh Tao to do our Padi Open Water scuba diving course. The boat trip to get to the Island was horrific!! We got on the fastest, most choppiest boat ride ever- Bearing in mind I dont think Chris realised how sea sick he was!! Practically the whole boat was throwing up - there was about 10 assistants on the boat giving out sickbags and tissues, collecting the bags - it was pretty discusting - bu...