I can't think of anything more exhilarating than in impromtu trip to chicago... Well, if you didn't hear the news, apparently you need a passport AND a VISA to enter China these days, something we thought the travel agency might have mentioned, but in the end it's our own fault. Long story short, we arrived at the Detroit Airport around 4:30 AM on Sept 7th, and thought we were stranded. A United ticketing agent took pitty on us and rerouted us through Chicago ...

Woke up early this morning to travel from Koh Phangan back to Bangkok. First we took a boat to Koh Tao which the the next island north. It it beautiful with most bungalows perched up on rocky cliffs. There are not very many beaches for swimming though. Took a second boat up to Chumporn (on the mainland) and sat on the beach for 45 minutes until our bus arrived. It was a double decker coach with fully reclining seats. I couldn't even touch the seat in front of me...