Our time in Koh Samui was spent getting a real taste of Thailand. What with copious amounts of Thai food, plenty of time shopping and enjoying the rainy seasons monsoon weather I was starting to dig life in Asia. Our arrangements to Phuket couldn't have been simpler either, it seems anywhere you are in Thailand they're prepared to arrange the necessary boat, bus, train and plane transfer to get you where you want to be.

So there we were, after a 8 hour journey across Thailand we rolled up to another hotel for a steal of a price. I can't stress enough how beautiful the country is and how inexpensive it is. But going back to Phuket, the well known holiday destination was a change of scenery from what we'd introduced ourselves to. We actually stayed in Phuket town rather than the popular beach region of Pa Tong. Here we sampled the rich city life of 24 hour markets, shopping complexes and of course the immigration office. Due to us having arrived by land we were only granted the 15 day visa rather than the required 30... Extension please! We also sorted out a flight from Phuket to Chiang Mai, our next destination. Thankfully the internal flights within Thailand are just as reasonable as their coach and train transport!

During our stay in Phuket town I managed to go explore the area in true tourist fashion. Picking up my camera I departed our hostel at 9:00 with a map of the town. First point of call was the immigration office to extend my visa for a couple more days. Unfortunately as we'd arrived by land we'd only been granted a 15 day visa and required 5 extra nights. 45 minutes, a passport photo and some forms later I felt like a free man again or at least until the 12th of November. Next stop was a personalised walking tour of the town and it's unique sights. Amongst the dilapidated old town stood the most amazing Buddhist and Chinese temples. The intricate detail on the structures shadow those which surround them. I then decided to take a walk around the markets which typified the hustle and bustle of the environment. Every different kind of meat and fruit you can imagine plus the odd terrapin and eel thrown in for good measure - I don't think I'd be surprised to see anything here! Finishing the day with a Thai meal it was nice to spend some time in a busy, foreign environment that really portrayed the culture of Thailand.

The next day we had booked a tour of arguably Phuket's main attraction - the Phi Phi Islands. We boarded the speedboat at 8:30 and began our cruise... Well, I'd like to call it a cruise but being a speedboat it was more of an adrenaline fuelled power-trip. But it was still great to have the wind in my hair as we sped towards our first location, Maya bay. Translated from Indonesian it means beautiful bay and it's easy to see why - crystal clear turquoise water surrounded by amazing cliff faces and a white sandy beach... Packed full of tourists! I kid you not, with 20+ speedboats all holding 30+ passengers the beach was a buzz with every different nationality. We stopped there and took in the magnificence of the place whilst swimming with the tropical fish in the bay. And then came the short journey around to Loh Samah bay and Pileh lagoon, two idyllic crevices of the uninhabited Phi Phi Ley island. Next stop was the Viking Cove which is an amazing cave which is now basically a business. Thai people consider birds nest soup a delicacy and so have began harvesting swallows nests from inside the cave. It's a bit of a risky job however with 30ft ladders up to the roof of the cave involved! We then moved onto the main island Phi Phi Don and stopped at the infamous Monkey Beach which was home to yet more crowds of tourists as well as cute and cuddly monkeys waiting to be fed. Some watermelon in hand the ridiculously calm and tame monkeys were keen to say hello. In true tropical fashion we were then treated to another snorkelling experience to remember. Having kept some monkey food with me I had fish of all kinds surround me left, right and centre. It was just magic and so different to anything I've done before. Then came lunch where we were dished up a buffet choice of Thai and western cuisine - yum yum yum! Stomachs full the guides knew we needed nothing more than an afternoon of relaxation and sleep on a beach. But rather than take us off to an average spot they sped us around to Khai island, a beach surrounded spot in the middle of the ocean. It was surreal to be on a beach in the middle of nowhere with great coral reef around us. The sun was blazing and I was zoned out completely watching the world go by, life couldn't have been more relaxed!

The next day we departed Phuket town and moved around to the tourist beach of Patong. Unfortunately the weather was slightly drizzly on arrival and we spent the afternoon browsing the same same but different stalls whilst being offered a 'massage' from every other 'lady' along the beach. That evening, with it being Halloween and all, we went out on the town to explore some nightlife. The bars were all over the place and the girls would entice drinks out of you by playing friendly and hilarious games of jenga, uno and other childhood classics. Granted the difference was that there were drinks (among other things) on the line...

Despite the weather having been good for us the majority of our travels I couldn't help but feel disappointed when the heavens opened up the following day. So we spent the majority of the day watching films and catching some football in a bar. Thankfully that evening we had something much more entertaining planned - the FantaSea theme park and show! With building designs that are occasionally wacky, over-the-top costumes, and elephants milling about, Phuket FantaSea has all the subtlety of a mouthful of Thai chillies. The show kicked off in grand style at 21:00. The stage is huge, but the performance space is even bigger. Aisles, ceiling, audience – every part of the theatre is used. While the eye is treated to modern effects like smoke, explosions, lasers, rain, soaring people, the brain gets insights into Thai culture in the form of traditional dances from different regions of the country, shadow puppets, and a fascinating wardrobe. It’s not tough to believe elephants can become accomplished actors, but this show also employs goats, roosters, water buffalo, and doves in supporting roles. The story wasn’t easy to follow, but it didn’t matter. Loud and funny moments interrupted by quiet, beautiful interludes do a great job conveying the emotion. The end result is a display that’s as dazzling as the sights outside the theatre. The only great shame is that we weren't allowed to take cameras in to share the experience with all of you back home - the pictures with baby elephants and tigers would have been great facebook profile shots!

The following day was our departure call and in true traveller fashion we moved the length of the country in yet another form of transport. The flight to Chiang Mai was cheap, hassle free and a lot quicker than the optional bus/train combos!