We left India and flew into Bangkok, staying in the Kho San Road area as its cheap accommodation. The place seemed full of Westerners compared to what we are used to in India. Had a good look around Bangkok, The Grand Palace and Wat Pho. We visited some of the massive shopping malls that they have (making the Trafford Centre seem the size of Saint Georges Centre) and just wandered around looking through the window of designer shops. It sounds sad but it seemed quite novel after 3 months in India. However despite all this shopping opportunity I was still unable to find the Olay complete care SPF15 moisturiser I use! What did tickle me is that in the UK most moisturisers contain some kind of tanning or bronzing agent whereas here I seem unable to find a moisturiser that doesnt contain some kind of whitening agent. Most people in the UK desire to have tanned skin but a woman in Thailand feels more attractive the whiter her skin. We are all odd creatures!

Cant believe the difference from being in India to arriving in Thailand. Overall the Thais appear more gentle in nature and polite. They know the meaning of 'queing'. They are not so quick to sound their horns, so there is a lot less noise pollution. Thailand is so much cleaner, they actually have bins here and its strange not to see men just urinating absolutely anywhere! India was about 90% Vegetarian whereas here its meat meat meat all the way. You walk through the market and people are bashing live frogs heads on to concrete slabs to kill them for food. Its the norm for people to be queing up to purchase deep fried chicken feet......I mean what is that all about?? Surely it cant be a nutritious meal? India was all about covering up and no public displays of affection (although it was acceptable and common for men to hold hands). Thailand the bars are lined up with prostitutes (or should I say ladies of the night) like birds of prey awaiting men to walk by and elderly Westerners walking round with young thai women wearing the latest fashion. I love the whole diversity of it all! Oh I almost forgot one of sights that almost made me vomit. They sell cooked eggs which contain dead baby chicks inside for food consumption.........what the???

Anyway after a few days in Bangkok we went to Auytthaya (the former capital) and the onto Chang Mai (northern Thailand) where we spent a week. We did I Thai cooking course, which was most enjoyable and we picked a good day to do it as it actually rained that day. I can now make a mean Thai Green Curry ( and a whole lot more) if I do say so myself!

We also went on a 3 day adventure trek We stayed in remote hill tribe villages each night and got completely involved with the locals, learing their dances and singing their songs, teaching them Oasis song. This was all helped by the 'local moonshine' (which I think is off the alcohol percentage scale somewhere) we were drinking along with Chang Beer. On the trek we went bamboo rafting, which was lovely and relaxing. I managed to get stubble rash between my legs from sitting on a elephants head. There was not enough room on the seat for us all and these animal actually have prickly skin. The experience was actually quite scary at times. To finish our trek off we went white water rafting. Initially I was quite terrifiedas there seemed to be lots of commands and instructions we needed to get used to before getting in the water. There was also a need for a quick understanding of where is left and where is right. Which is not a strong point for me!!! However the rapids were not actually that difficult and I found the whole experience quite exciting (apart from a brief foul stench which transpired to be a bloated dead dog floating past us). I intend to give more difficult rapids a go some time in the future, prehaps in New Zealand.

We then left Chang Mai and headed to the boarder where we crossed into Laos. Again another completely different country. the people here a even more laid back and friendly. We headed to north Laos to a place called Maung Sing and went on a day and a half trek, which nearly killed me as I realised I have lost a lot of my fitness and probably been eating far to mant India Thalis washed down with Kingfisher Beer! We climbed to about 1,500meters, the views were amazing. Again we stayed in a small village, played football with the children and recieved a massage from the village women, but refrained from smoking opium with the elderly population.

We then went to Luang Prabang, a beautiful place with a real French influence (baguettes for sale on every corner) where we fed the Monks sticky rice in the morning. Then on to a place known as the 'plain of jars' in eastern Laos. Which bring me to our current destination in Vang Vieng eamous for 'tubing'. The concept of tubing is that you purchase an inflated tractor tyre inner tube, get a tuk tuk to drop you off on the river, sit on your tube and float down the river stopping off a numerous bars along the bank which fish you in with ropes or sticks. There are also various kinds of rope swings and volley ball along the way. The combination of drinking, water and swings is probably not a sensible idea and probably why we ended up in hospital the following morning getting Neils foot x-rayed. But the whole thing is so funny and bizarre seeing ridiculous amounts of people floating along, plus all is okay as his foot is not broken!

I am continuing to have so much fun and am not even fed up of having worn the same sandles for the past 3 and a half months (think it brings me closer to understanding Ghandi). Although would like some complete care Olay as my face is feeling a little dry!