Happy New Year from Thailand! Back in this amazing country after almost 6 years since we first visited! We are spending our last month here and have already been here 2 weeks, so only 2 weeks to go..........

Left Sihanoukville, Cambodia and headed up into Thailand and across to Koh Chang (Thailand's 2nd largest island after Phuket). It was a long day of travelling, made worse by the fact that half the bridges hadn't been finished yet (in Cambodia) so we had to keep getting wooden ferry rafts across the rivers! Very rickety but we made it! We were on the ferry to Koh Chang at sunset though and it was a stunner, a close 2nd to the best ever one we saw in Tassie. The sky was on fire! Beautiful way to start our week on the island.

Stayed 7 nights in a luxury beach hut right at the end of White Sand Beach (the island's biggest and busiest) so it was nice and quiet. We were only 10 metres from the clear blue sea so awoke and went to sleep to the sound of waves breaking on the shore. The week was a real holiday from our holiday - lots of sunbathing, swimming in the sea and eating at restaurants on the beach.

Did something different on christmas eve though, went on a 2 hour elephant trek! Koh Chang means Elephant Island so it seemed an appropriate place to do this. Was really good fun. I thought we would be hurting the elephant sat high up on her back but Phil assured me she probably couldn't feel us! They are very strong and have really thick skin. Went through the jungle to a fresh water pool where we all cooled off - humans and elephants together. The elephants made their way deep into the water, using their trunks as a snorkel, then we swam up and climbed onto their neck. Sat on them while they moved about and sprayed us with their trunks! Brilliant!

Back on the beach at the main resort area we started a traditional xmas eve bar crawl with a twist! Sat out at several bars enjoying cool drinks in the hot sun and Phil even went for a quick dip. Made our way up the beach to our hut and drunkenly got ready for our christmas Eve dinner, Phil with our santa hat on, tinsel for me! This was at a fairly posh resort back down the beach. We were persuaded to go here as they had a buffet on including roast turkey! It was a grand buffet and we totally filled our boots. Our table was down on the sand so we had a great view when the Thai 'Mr Santa' arrived on his elephant! It was so bizarre but we loved it! His sexy santa helpers handed out presents to us all and Phil couldn't resist getting a pic with them. There was entertainment all night too, ranging from a band singing Western songs, to Thai children singing christmas carols (so cute), a magician (who was very good) and a ladyboy cabaret act! Played a game which was a bit stupid but we got given a pressie for our efforts! All in all it was a good night out and it actually felt like christmas!

Christmas day was lovely but this didn't seem as christmassy, it was just another day on the beach. However, we had a few cards and pressies to open (which we did out in the sun on our balcony) plus Phil surprised me with a bottle of Moet and OJ so we had bucks fizz for brekky (this is a tradition in my family, so that was really nice). Wore our christmas things for a few pics which you'll be able to see shortly, then spent all day on the beach and in the sea. Had our christmas dinner on the beach at our resort while the sun was setting. Phil was really pleased because all year he's been saying he wanted Thai green curry for his xmas dinner and he got it! In fact we both had Thai food, as no turkey was on offer! At least I'd had it the night before though. Then we walked along the beach to have a few drinks at a bar with a beautifully lit tree and mats on the sand to sit on. Watched a fire dance show too which was pretty spectacular but we had seen this already in Fiji. Perfect end to the day though.

The only other activity we did on Koh Chang was a day trip to 4 smaller islands. This was a great day as we did loads of snorkelling in the warm sea. The water was so clear and we saw a lot of colourful fish, as well as brilliant coral. We think Thailand is the best place we've been snorkelling around the world.

Soon it was time for us to leave the island and head to Bangkok ready for NYE. This was the first stop on our RTW trip 6 years ago so we were looking forward to going back. It was a massive culture shock last time but now it just seems like any other Asian city that we are used to! In fact Bangkok is tame compared to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City! Stayed in a posh hotel (had booked this back home before leaving!) near the famous Khao San Road (featured in the film The Beach) and that is where we had our new year. Celebrated with a nice German couple we'd met the night before. We got on really well and their English was perfect, we did try our German out a bit too but it wasn't half as good! We all went to a bar full of locals and sat out in the courtyard. Phil caught the attention of a ladyboy who really fancied him! He even got a squeeze on the shoulder as he/she walked past! Had lots to drink and watched as a flamboyant gay Thai guy danced away on the table with his mates. There was a huge tv screen for the countdown and we had our party poppers at the ready.......the atmosphere was really good and the Thai people were really friendly and wished us a happy new year - we learnt it in Thai too! Poured out onto Khao San road afterwards to join in the street party and it was mayhem. Did a bar crawl down the street, felt like a summers evening out in the warm air, weird for NYE! Phil got quite drunk but not me for some reason so I can remember the night! Phil had a couple more encounters with ladyboys eying him up! He must have something about him that they like......Could've stayed out all night but went in at about 4.30am so had still made a good night of it. Needless to say New Years Day was mainly spent sleeping!

Had a couple more days in Bangkok but I was ill again! Spent the 2nd in bed and Phil had to go to the pharmacy to get me some drugs, was not nice, I'd caught another bug but it didn't last long thank goodness. Met up with our Aussie friends, Michael and Barbara (who we'd orignally met in North Vietnam, then again in HCMC) for a day of sight seeing and an evening out. We've seen the sights before but didn't mind seeing a few of the temples again as it is all stunning. Had a ride on the famous Bangkok form of transport - a tuk tuk! It is a funny little motorised vehicle with 3 wheels. Driver sits up front while there is a seat behind him for the passengers. There is a photo of one on our front page. It's a great way to nip around the city!

Then we left Bangkok for a 2 day trip to Kanchanaburi, home to the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai. We learnt a lot of history about the 'Death Railway', so called because of the tens of thousands of lives that were lost here during it's construction. During WW2 the Japanese forced Allied Prisoners of War and many Asian civilians to build a railway linking Thailand and Burma (now called Myanmar). They worked under horrendous conditions and many died through disease, starvation and brutal treatment. We walked over the existing bridge, the 2nd one to have been built after the first one was bombed. It was high up and a bit scary walking along the railway track with no barriers to stop you falling into the river! The track is still used, mainly as a tourist attraction, so when trains come you simply had to move off the bridge, that would never be allowed to happen in the UK! We visited a couple of war cemetaries with thousands of graves, 35,000 POW and 100,000 civilians died in total. Also did a short ride on the railway and we stood outside and hung off the edge, some drops were scary going round the hillsides.

Also visited a tiger temple on our way back to Bangkok. This is a sanctuary where they help injured tigers and breed them too. We got to sit with and stroke several of the big cats which was amazing but all a bit too touristy for our liking! Played about with a small 4 month old cub too who was sweet but could still easily rip your face off! We were lucky....

Head up to Northern Thailand next on the overnight bus to Chiang Mai, hoping to do some more trekking in the mountains and a Thai cookery course too, we like the food here! Then we have our last week in the sun on Koh Samet before we fly home......

Not long left but we are still making the most of it. Looking forward to seeing everyone when we get home but would also like to stay away a bit longer!

Hope you are all well, see you soon

love us 2 X