Well after the long boat which was two days with a one night stop over... We made it Laing purbang Vaing vang... The mini hire was for just the six of us and was worth wver cent... As we hadxour own driver for a few dollars more... The road to vaing vang was a shocker ... Plenty of winding roads and step descents and having to stop due to land slides... first night stayed by the river in a bungalow and hit the town...the bucket bar... What a crack... So many h...

Arrived in Chaing Mai - libra guest house... Very basic but clean and the staff very friendly...this city has the history and culture. Tonight was the Sunday markets and I have never seen so many street vendors in one long street...selling everything from food,clothes,textiles etc. The best part about the markets is people watching... Looking at the emotions on their faces... For so many people walking so close together in this heat and humidity everyone seeme...

Bangkok...well we made it too Bangkok and had booked a place on Khaosan rd, which is in the middle of the action on the main drag. This road had everything... But thank goodness no strip bars... Was surprised by how many Euro's were here... Every nationality and ranging in ages... Very beautiful people walk up and down the strip which was about 300m long...with food and clothes stores by the curb...all the time watching out for the police .and when they do com...

2 weeks into my Asia trip and all I can say is ohhh yesssss...already feels like I have been here for about a month. Ao Nang is a CHILLAXED place... Riding the scooter with no licence, no helmet,just like the locals... Checking out the local markets...where we are the token white guy!!!! You could tell if there were markets on,as the usually busy roads were reduced to a very slow pace... Even had a copper there directing the traffic with the whistle, and direct...

What a crack today... Had no idea that we were going to Railey beach...today... Beautiful weather,clear skies.. Yep it was time.. Within 5 mins baggy and said we were off.. Damo wanted to stay and sort stuff on from back home- " like the house was on fire"... But all good!!! Railey beach was tops,the granite rocks shooting out of the water... So beautiful and not that busy as it is low season... Few people and plenty of places to have a swim... Very beautiful......