My time in South East Asia has officially come to an end- i now can laugh at the fact that in my first week i told mum on the phone that i was extremely concerned two months here would be too long- i was nuts!
Since last update have had such a relaxing time- actually ended up staying almost two weeks on Koh Tao...definitly fell in love with the place. And you know you've been there longer than "nomal" when the Pancake guy knows you on name to name (and order) basis, you know exactly what time the pipes would have been heated enough to make the water hot and most importantly-the taxi drivers stop asking you- 'hey you- where you go?'. Ended up moving to the most idyllic little bungalow literally 3m from the water-right on stilts on the rocks- very cute. Well i thought it was cute until i was hanging up washing (yes i know, quite domestic), and ended up falling through the balcony and getting stuck with one leg through. Turns out rotten wooden plank things that make the deck were rotten in one part and standing on it wasn't the most fantastic idea... next day was rewarded with 3 hand size bruises around my knee- but for the view the balcony gave me every night for the next week i'm going to say it was worth it-sunsets were amazing!
Turns out i'm not very good at sitting still for prolonged periods of time (aka past an hour) so ended up walking past school where they were running a free english school for Thai kids in their holidays and said they could do with some help- had the best time! Was awesome to be back with kids again-have definitly missed it! I joined the nursery group (aged 4-6..so cute!) and we generally structured their day with games and chucked in the odd english word to keep their attention span up.. really suprising how fast they learn under/over/up/down/around if you make them do it in an obstacle course! (and i wil admit i loved it too! hehe).
My last night in Koh Tao also brought a huge highlight..was sittign on rocks infront of bungalow watching sunset and i looked down to my feet, there to my huge suprise was a green turtle sticking his head out of the water 30cm from my toes! So cool!!!!!!!!!!! No camera handy but will never forget it.

Now back in BKK (came with the awesome night bus with the usual break downs and stoned passengers...makes it interesting...). Have spent the last two days with friends i met in Laos which was really nice, also caught up with my dive buddy and her boyfriend so it was reunions all round. That left today for a mad runaround shop, making most of the Soi's aroudn Khao San so i could send a package time (look out for a box in 3months mum and dad!).

Overall have had an amazing time in Thailand and Laos- but not that sad to leave because i know i'll be back. Think it's ready for a change as well because i'm becoming far to comfertable here and its a bit easy so my new challenge of Nepal starts tommorow... Definitly going to miss aspects of it though...to name a few, is, the fresh fruit at only 10baht, the excitement i feel when i find a hot shower, the yogurt in the blue and white tubs, the constant "cheap cheap, good price for me good price for you", as well as "hey you where you from?" aka please get in my tuktuk, soft drinks that always come in a bottle, seeing pedestrian crossings then realise they mean nothing at all, the whitening products everywhere, the ice cream vendors jingle, the ORGNAGE moon, the cute kittens at Lampu house, 'orange juice ten baaaaaht' just to name a few! Wont miss the scary dogs though...or the potential suicide runs across BKK roads..but have learnt stuff as well...like how (don't shoot me girls) conditioner is really a marketing campaign unless you go in the sea, a shower needs a rinse to get wet and a rinse to wash the soap off, appreciate a soft bed if you find one-they're few and far between, black clothes and underwear are the best and lone and lonely aren't a definiite pair- travelling solo has been one of the best things i've chosen to do and the people i've met so far have been amazing!

Off to treat myself to a last thai massage..then to bed so i can get up at 5am...next time i write i'll be saying hello to nepal!
hope all is well where you are.

loveXX