We finished our time in Thailand with a 3 day jungle trek in Northern Thailand. I vow this is the final bit of exertion on this trip - and I have thrown away my trekking shoes just to make sure...

The group was good, even managed to tolerate the stupid "so you live in the countryside - so do you work on a farm?" Americans by the end of it.

I was quite pleased that the trek wasn't too arduous. However, as we decided to come to Asia in rainy season, it was muddy and slippery so there were a few comedy falls, one spectacularly graceful one provided by me.

We also had the priviledge of sleeping in shacks. There were no matresses! However, it was in a hill tribe village so when in Rome... I also had to shower in a waterfall on one of the days, many people found this a wonderful experience. I did not.

One of the guys in the tribe was sat chatting to me and asked why all farangs (foreigners) have big noses - he was including me in this generalisation. I refrained from pointing out his Asian ooompah loompah sized proportions.

On the third day we went bamboo rafting, which just descended into an all out war. And finally, the highlight - elephant riding. And we thought the tuk tuks were X-treme! Of course we had the naughty elephant. At one point it started slipping in the mud and even our guide looked scared so you can imagine what I was like!

We finished our visit to Thailand with a cookery course. When we arrived, there were cockroaches running all over the floor so we were a little dubious. However, the day was a success and I can now make a mean spring roll and green curry, just a shame I'm sick of eating it!

So to Laos next and a 3 day journey ahead of us. Luckily I managed to source one of the few copies of Harry Potter in Chang Mai (which cost a small fortune) so that should last me about a day!

Hope you're all well, take care, Katherine xxx