Hello!!

Sorry it's been so long since I updated - a. it is really expensive to get online here (although with Thailand supposedly being the land of the backpacker i can't really understand why!!) and b. I haven't really been doing that much that I felt the need to write about it!!!

I spent the weekend relaxing, swimming, reading and recovering from the worldwind tour of the 4 countries I had just visited! This time was spent mostly on the sundeck in my room (as luckily for me it doesn't get alot of sun!!) and on the glorious stretches of white sand that can be found right outside the door of my hotel!! The locals and the hotel staff clearly all think I'm mad! I'm the only westerner for miles around who isn't wearing a bikini and lying in the sun from dusk till dawn but rather walking around fully clothed (and when i say fully i mean fully, cardigans and all!!) and running into the shade whenever the sun emerges from behind the clouds. One of the waitresses in the cafe where I have been eating a lot of noodles thinks it's hilarious that I came here when I don't like the sun, she giggles everytime she sees me walking past in my latest coverup!! Despite my greatest efforts however, I am looking slightly browner - so at least u'll be able to tell that I've been away!!

The weather here is a bit mental! It's monsoon season at the minute so it's either red hot and sunny or red hot and pouring down with rain! Neither are particularly great when u want to get out and see the surroundings!! On Monday I spotted an opening to go and do some exploring because the weather was dare I say it a little milder! After walking for about an hour to the next beach along the coast I had changed my mind and decided that it was still too hot to be attempting anything more that sitting or swimming!! It was definitely worth it to see Kata though, with it's beautiful rocky coastline which was very different to that of Karon where I am staying. I got some really nice pictures, hired a deckchair in the shade, bought an ice cream and sat and admired the views before attempting the walk back!!

Yesterday I went for another wander in the opposite direction not really sure what I would find! What I found was an elephant in the middle of the road holding up the traffic!!! I'm not quite sure what it was doing there but there were alot of Thai's running around in a panic and lots of children laughing and pointing! I take it had escaped from somewhere but as I don't think there are any parks around here I am at a loss to decide where!!! I asked the hotel staff when i retured if there were any elephants parks near and they told me he was probably a worker elephant owned by a family! Imagine having an elephant as a pet!!

The people are all really nice and friendly - I suppose they don't call it the land of smiles for nothing!! I have been eating some really great food and the staff are always keen to talk to me to find out where I am from and why I am travelling alone!! I have also picked up some great tips from fellow travellers I have met on islands to visit and things to do and see. I am planning on visiting James Bond Island on Monday and then spending a day or two on the Phi Phi islands (where they shot the beach) towards the end of next week.

Hope all is well at home - it is my graduation tomorrow so I might treat myself to a pina colada to celebrate!!!

Take Care xxxxxx