IT FEELS LIKE THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR. NOT SUCH A GOOD DAY TO BE ON THE TEMPLE TOUR OF AYUTTHAYA THEN. RESPITE IS FOUND IN A TINY (HALF THE SIZE OF MY BEDROOM BACK IN LONDON) COFFEE SHOP WITHIN MARKET AREA. THE AIR-CON IS WORKING OVERTIME AND HAS THE EFFECT OF CREATING ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS OF A WALK IN REFRIDGERATION UNIT. I HAVE MY DIGITAL CAMERA AND MOBILE SPREAD OUT ON THE BURNT WOOD TABLE; STACKS OF FASHION MAGAZINES ARE NOT SO CASUALLY ON DISPLAY. I CO...

CHILL, CHILL, CHILL. LYING ON MY BUNGALOW PORCH, IN HAMMOCK; HAD BREAKFAST, DONE YOGA - READING "A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING " ( BILL BRYSON ). ALMOST FALLING ASLEEP DUE TO UNEXPLAINED, UNCONTROLABLE DEEP RELAXATION. THE SEA IS LAPPING ON THE BEACH; MERELY FIFTY YARDS AWAY. FALLING COCONUTS AND OTHER SEED PODS THUD THE GROUND ( SOMEWHAT UNSAFE FOR THE UNWARY ). LIZARDS ARE SCAMPERING FROM PALM TREE TO PALM TREE. AT NIGHT THE GECKOS TAKE OVER WITH THEIR B...

FLYING FROM MANILA TO BANGKOK IN THE MORNING AND JUST DON'T SEEM TO FIND THE TIME TO POST TRAVEL STORIES. THERE ARE OF COURSE PLENTY TO TELL AND WHEN I DO HAVE THE TIME I PROMISE TO REVEAL ALL. YES, I'VE MISSED OUT UPDATES FROM AUSTRALIA, SINGAPORE AND THE PHILIPPINES...