Hi Everyone,

Welcome to the blog from hell.

We were scheduled to leave Munich heading for London on Monday night. We were both so so so so excited to be catching up with the gang and to head to paradise. We were both quite sick and it was a huge effort to get to the airport with our backpacks. Our flight was slightly delayed and the more delayed and then delayed by three hours. We were stuck in departures panicking and trying to get out to the brithish airways counter as we needed to find out what we can do about our 2 connecting flights we needed to get. After spending about 30 minutes trying to get out we finally found the counter and were told we were to late to get any other flight out and that we would definately miss our other flights. This is when the tears began. We were exhausted sick and very upset. Bek had to console Mike as he wouldnt stop crying....or so that is how I would like to tell the story. Anyways after a call from our parents we picked ourselves up and made the most of our food vouchers.

When we arrived at London 3 hours to late we discovered mayhem. Around 500 passengers had missed their flights and were not happy about it. We all basically got told to leave the airport and come back in the morning to sort it out. We then waited for around 2 hours out the front of heathrow wearing our thai clothes trying to warm up in london weather. We were waiting for a coach that was going to take us to our accommodation for the night. It finally arrived and people went feral trying to get on the buses. Mike told me to hip and shoulder and older person as they have weak hips. We were driving to Tower Hill Hotel at 230am in the morning but got some cool photos of big ben and the london eye. To our suprise we got to check into a 5 star hotel in the executive suite with the most amazing view of the tower bridge. it was lit up and so pretty. Anyway we didnt have time to sit around as we had to call up and change flights as soon as possible. After two calls to british airways which turned out to be a lady in america and 2 calls to our useless travel agent in australia we finally got in contact with qantas who helped us with a flight the next night..24 hours after our first one was meant to leave. We went to bed exhausted at 330am in our luxury suite. The next morning we got up and had showers and changed back into our clothes as our baggage was left at the airport.

We then had to go find a travel agent in the city who would help us get new flights in thailand. This was not really what we thought we would be doing but it had to be done. The travel agent felt sorry for us and gave us our flight changes without any charges. We then had to stock up on deodorant and went back to the hotel for a 5 star meal that british airways will cover (fingers crossed).

We finally got on our flight 24 hours later and after a 6 hour stint in the airport and to Beks suprise she was upgraded to first class for the 11 hour flight. Note: Mikes name was not mentioned in the previous sentance...This is a tough situation..what would you do? Apparently Bek did the wrong thing and left Mike with the comoners while she lived it up in her Morrisey Qantas pajamas with the upperclass folk for 11 hours. To her defence...she did visit Mike and took him some pjamas and food from first class.

So we arrived at Bangkok with a spring in our step..we were only an hours flight away from paradise and meeting Nae and Gerard...Not for long...."Attention Miss Hall....your luggage never left London..you are screwed".Not quite that but you get the idea. Our bags had been left in London and would not come for another 24 hours. TEARS TEARS and MORE TEARS and a touch of yelling from Mike. We had an another emotional call to the parents and then went and got some clothes for Bek and most importantly some bathers (courtesy of travel insurance).

After finally arriving in Koh Samui we checked into our hotel. When we finished checking in Bek thought she heard the staff say "enjoy your wedding (in thai voice)" she mentioned this to Mike but thought she must have missheard. We found our room which was the "honeymoon suite".. Picture rose petals, fruit baskets and swans made out of bathtowels. It was hilarious...picked up our spirits. But the best part was seeing Renee and Gerard. I didnt want to let go of Renee...they were our angels. They brought us clothes, food, water, medicine and beer! It was so nice to see them and we almost forgot all our worries.After a catch up we went to bed.

The next morning we all got up and met for breakfast by the ocean. It was so beautiful and nice to have a big buffet. After this Mike and Gerard went off in search of some clothes for Mike. He needed so thongs, boardies and a singlet. Renee and I stayed by the pool moving between our sun lounges and the cooling water. We started to wonder where the boys were but they were off enjoying the bartering to much.

When the boys got back and after a swim we went off for a and enjoyed some nice cocktails by the pool. After this we went off for a shower and called to enquire about our bags...You dont think it can get any worse right? Well....."Miss Hall...your flight was cancelled...your bags are still in London..maybe they come tomorrow."...More tears but who needs clothes when you have bathers? It was now 5 days without our bags but we were not suprised. To make ourselves feel better the boys went off to watch the cricket at a pub and the girls went to the day spa for a rfew hours of pampering. Which made us all feel better.

Dinner that nigth was on the beach. It was so pretty with perfect weather, cool music and cushions and tables on the sand for us to sit and enjoy the atmosphere. We had cheap food and even cheaper cocktails. Lots of cocktails.

The next morning Gerard was up early to go fishing on the otehr side of the island and Mike slept in until 1pm..blamed it on the thai food. Renee and Bek went to breakfast together and then had some "cousin time" by the pool reading our books and trashy magazines. Mike joined us later for lunch and then Renee went off for a nanna nap. Mike and I went swimming in the ocean which is steps away from the hotel. The sand is like powder here and the water is crystal clear and warm. It was heaven!

After this we went to have a nanna nap and then Renee joined us for a slumber party and we watched home and away while waiting for gerard to return. For dinner we went out onto the beach again...the idea was to watch our plane come in over the island....but no plane....oh dear..would this mean no bags again...? We went and enquired at the hotel and they said our plane came from the other side and that it had landed on the island..hooraayy now we just had to check that it arrived safely and that they had not stolen anything..we had heard horror stories. But it arrived. High fives all round! We went back to our room and checked that the essentials were there....tiffanys jewellery..check...ghd hair straightener...check...beer steins check! We were so excited we hugged..at this point renee and gerard were walking past our room and thought the bags were not there...they gave us some time to console each other and then returned to see Bek doing a happy dance...with hair straightener in hand.

We then went out to do some shopping and didnt get much. It was hard bartering so Nae and Bek went off to the day spa..which should be called a night spa and the boys went back to the room to watch tv. We then went and said goodbye to Nae and Gerard who we would meet the next day in Phuket.

Now we have checked out of our room and are watiing for our flight to Phuket where we will meet Carla and Jeremy our good friends from home and Renee and Gerard. It should be great fun. Wish us luck with the flight....the planes are tiny and Bek is very nervous.

Love Bek and Mike and our two backpacks!!