Arrived at Bangkok Airport with no problems, I would like to say the same about the taxi to the hostel but I cant. He got us lost and it took longer to find the hostel than it did to fly from Hong Kong. The next day we went on our way to Khoasan Road (the backpackers street). It is really full of backbackers, stalls, bars and the odd ladyboy, they are not as easy to spot as I thought they would. Got a tuk tuk to the grand palace the dodgy b***** tried telling us it was shut for special reasons and he could drive us round town instead, nice try but it didnt work. We got to the palace and it was open, shocker, thanks lonely planet for the advice. The palace is fantastic and very grand defiantly worth a visit.

After all this we are in need for a bit of relaxing so we have booked a trip to a national park in Chantubury. Got picked up and the first day was visiting the old war memorials from world war 2 including the cemetery and the hellfire pass museum and walk. Very sad what happened here during the war so I wont go in to it. We then went to our accommodation for the next few days...a house on a raft, very different but good. Day 2 started with a trip to the seven steps waterfall, I had a little drip in the 4th not for long though all the fishes nibbled your feet and some where over a foot long! Then went to see the big p**** cats at the Tiger Temple, apparently they are veggy's now, due to living with the buddist monks. They are all rescue tigers and believe it not they are not drugged when you sit with them argh they are tame though as they have been raised from cubs. Day 3 was the best yet, the guides at our boat house gave us the chance to bath an elephant and it's one of the best things I have ever done. The first part was a tad scary I had to ride the elephant down a very steep hill to the river, with nothing to hold on to. Once in the river the elephants took great pleasure in soaking you as much as possible, but they are so gentle, one of them picked me up with it's truck like i was weightless, it then dropped me again proving I wasn't..very funny nelly. After here we sailed back down river on our bamboo raft, not really sure whats wrong with me but as soon as I see water i feel compelled to jump in, and only me for some reason, the water looked a bit on the murky side but we got assured it was safe (did see a little croc though!!!). Then it was back to some more elephants and a little bit of trekking, not as much fun as giving them a bath though.

After doing all that we where a bit on the tired side so off to the train station for another over night train South. Time to hit the islands on the east and of course the Full Moon party in Koh Pgangan.

Speak soon

Liz x x x