Hi everyone, We have returned to Thailand after leaving Laos behind. Our first destination was Chaing Mai where we stayed for about a week. We managed to fit in a cookery course. I doubt many people have sampled mine or Krys' cooking before because neither of us can cook, so it was an experience! We did pretty well though and will through a Thai dinner party when we get home to prove it. My spring rolls were wicked (and vegetarian for Kelly, Rachel and Steffiy)! We tried to get them to give us a certificate but they weren't having any of it. We also went trekking into Northern Thailand through hill tribe villages, which included elephant riding and bamboo rafting. I think I was looking forward to it a bit too much though and was a bit disappointed. They didnt tell us much about the villiage people and our only interaction with them really was them trying to sell us locally made jewellery. However, overall it was cool and the villages and their clothing were beautiful. The elephant riding was amazing. I was terrified to start with as they are so huge and wandering about, and when I asked the guide if they were friendly, he said 'usually, but sometimes not'- hmmm. It didnt instill too much confidence. Once I was on it though it was fantastic. Think there's a photo of me looking a bit dubious. Krys was in his element and very brave and sat on it's neck most the way trying to get the lazy thing to stop pulling up trees and walk. We both managed to pick up more injuries though. I was stood on the back of a pick-up truck when it started rolling cos the handbrake hadnt been left on. As we were at the top of a hill into a river and about a metre from the edge I jumped down the hill. Apartently I jumped pretty far and managed to knacker my toe up and limped for a few days. Krys fell and cut his finger open too so were doing well-mum J and M- the first aid kits are being well used! We went on to Pai, a little hippyish town north of Chaing Mai. We hired motorbikes with Magalie and Natasha (the two girls we've been travelling with, who when we bumped into them after not seeing them for a month ran up and said, 'did you get bitten by a monkey?' Apparently the news had worked its way round about 4 groups of people we'd met along the way before reaching them- Im famous!) to explore the surroundings. I managed to fall of when the motrbike was fairly still (adding to my growing number of bruises) and Natasha did the same. It also rained laods. Apart from that it was good! Saw some very hot natural springs (80 degrees) and elephant camps where we fed the elephants. Our last visit was Sukhothai, an ancient capital with lots of temple ruins, mainly of big buddhas and pillars. Not much else to say about it really. We are now in Kanchanaburi and after a few days here hit the beaches in the south for some serious laziness. Hope everything is good back home. Laura- keep your phone next to you! lots of love, Toni and Krys x