We landed back in the 'Land of smiles' and how pleased were we! Thailand has been our base, which we keep returning to so you can tell we obviously love it. We were on our last remaining three weeks and the days were quickly slipping by. We decided to visit some of the places that we have not managed to fit in on previous occasions.

Firstly we had to cross the border of Malaysia to Thailand- we left the Perhentian Islands via speed boat and then got a taxi to the border. The taxi dropped us off and we were faced with huge barriers and offices, we really had no idea what we were supposed to do. It was mainly cars and bikes which were passing through, we managed to find a narrow path to pull our backpacks along until we saw a passport control. After getting a stamp to leave Malaysia we then made our way across a bridge when we spotted a small office tucked away around the corner and we realised we had to get a stamp to enter Thailand- oops nearly forgot. The security was nonexistent, with people walking everywhere with no organisation and no one telling you what you are supposed to do.

So once we had crossed it was immediately obvious that we were now in Thailand, strange that you cross a hundred meters of land and immediately there is such a contrast. The ladies were all now dressed in lovely silk tight fitting dresses, the food is completely different and to be honest everyone was now happy and smiling!

We got into a minibus and had to quickly decided where to go, after burying our heads in the lonely planet for a few minutes we decided on Koh Lanta. An Island on the west coast of South Thailand which we had missed last time.

KOH LANTA

Yet another boat trip and bus journey then we got dropped off on a dirt path road, we made our way to a guest house which was in the lonely planet. We thought we had arrived at the wrong place as we walked through there was not a single person to be seen. We searched around and eventually came across a lady doing repairs who informed us that we had come too early and it was out of season and high season started in November- dam! As it was low season the price of accommodation was much cheaper so we found a newly built resort next door right on the beach- that will do thank you- who needs people!

It was a bit like a ghost town but as usual we were lucky with the weather as it was glorious sunshine and blue sky. We also had some friends coming to meet us who we had met in the Perhentian Islands, the two ozy lads- Matt and Justin.

Whilst we were here we could not resist the chance to go diving again. This time it was a full day on the boat with two separate dives on the islands next to Koh Phi Phi. Wow- we were so pleased we went as we took with us our beginners luck!! There had been a rumour that a whale shark had been in the area, so we kept our fingers crossed and hoped for the best as these animals are a very rare sight. It paid off, as towards the end of a spectacular dive our instructor frantically pointed out the illusive whale shark. It swam above us and even though we knew it was a plankton eating creature you couldn't help but feel nervous as the six metre long shark swam above our head - der der der der!!!! A man from Denmark- Jorgen who was diving with us had a camera and as the whale shark was swimming away he managed to snap himself out of his trance and take a few pictures- you can just make it out.

We were hooked after that and went on another dive some days later and again luck was with us as we saw not one leopard shark but three and they were quite happy for us to get up close and have a good old nosey at them.

We loved Koh Lanta and stayed there for two weeks soaking up the sun and enjoying our favourite cuisine of Thai food- spicy papaya salad, seafood salads (not an iceberg lettuce in sight) and sticky rice with mango- salivating at the thought umm! We also had a great time with the owners of the resort, our dive instructor and Jorgen - whom we had a great birthday bash with. More and more people trickled in as the news of the fantastic weather had spread

BACK TO BANGKOK

We then decided to head back to Bangkok, time was really closing in on us know and we wanted to make the most of our last week. Bangkok has been our most visited place as we had to go back for flights or passing through and of course it is where we started our trip from. We couldnt wait to go back and explore it again especially now we were hardened to the Asian lifestlye.

We got onto a night bus from Trang and loaded ourselves with Thai snacks to help us through the boredom of the twelve hour bus journey- not helped by the films they were showing as they were all American but dubbed over with Thai - thank god for I pods.

We arrived in Bangkok at four in the morning and as we have learnt before, no matter what the time is its always buzzing with life especially in Koh San road. Koh San road is backpack central and it looks like swarms of army ants wondering around as you look down the massive street and see hundreds of people coming or going trying to find accommodation or transport with their backpacks strapped to them with grimacing tired looks on their faces. Once everyone's sorted they head to the many bars lining the streets and get a much needed cold chang or tiger beer-phew!

We managed to find a half decent room in a guest house, which going by our previous visits here we assumed was near impossible. It was great to be back in a city with all the madness and hustle and bustle. It is such an exciting place to be in, it definitely seems to attract all the weird and eccentric people in the world - makes for great people watching! It was even better going back now knowing what we know so we weren't so scared and things didn't seem so alien.

We really realised how much we had changed when we were sitting having dinner at one of the stalls at the side of the pavement when we spotted a group of pale girls walking past- one of them was looking at the stall and people eating and started to heave and gag as she went by- We laughed to ourselves as that was me and Lisa when we first came out and now we were quite happily sitting tucking into our stall grub- how far we have come!!

Whilst in the city we decided to investigate the cost of teeth whitening as it is supposed to be much cheaper that in the UK. We went to a recommended private hospital which was like something from the future with floor to ceiling sparkling white, staff delivering things in roller blades. Each floor offered a different cosmetic treatment- weight loss- floor 1, cellutite - floor 2, wrinkles- floor3 you could spend a week in here and come out looking like a Barbie doll, but we only had an hour and no Kens waiting for us so white teeth was enough for us!

After a couple of hours we came out with gleaming white teeth but for the rest of the day we walked around as though we had some kind of twitch as all of a sudden it felt like someone was shoving a needle down your gums - beauty is pain, so they say!!

The next few days were spent exploring this huge interesting city, I am sure you could spend a year here and still find new places to visit. It's so interesting as one minute you could be in a busy smelly market, you could then turn the corner and enter a tranquil beautiful temple and next you could be amongst modern shopping malls and shops. But one guarantee about anywhere you go in Bangkok is that in arms reach there will be someone cooking up some simple delicious food.

The one down fall in Bangkok is that even if the weather is good you never really get to see it through the thick layer of smog that constantly hangs over the city acting like a sunshine bully boy! So off we went for a few days to Koh Samet- desperately getting the last bits of sunshine we could.

KOH SAMET

It was only a four hour bus journey then a short boat ride to this island, everyone uses it as an escape from the big city, away from the smog and to get some much needed fresh air.

It was now really dawning on us that this adventure was now coming to an end. Full of contrasting emotions as we were really looking forward to seeing everyone butalso this life of moving from place to place and seeing new things everyday- well its really addictive and hard to let go of.

We started clearing out our backpacks of all the rubbish we had accumulated throughout the trip, finally being able to throw out clothes that we were soooo sick of seeing each other in. We tried to remember clothes we had at home and just couldn't! The thought of having a choice of outfits was overwhelming but that was just the start of it- being able to sit on a toilet, clean sheets- umm actually that's about it- Vik lets stay in Asia after all!!!

We did have a bit of a shock when we went to our new accommodation in Koh Samet- on the surface everything looked ok- same same as all the other numerous huts/bungalows we have stayed in, until we came to sit on the bed- ouch!! The mattresses had been replaced with planks of wood- but they had still put sheets on bless them. Vik tried to make the situation better as we had to stay there as it was the only cheap place on the island - "hard beds are supposed to be god for your back"- yeah Vik but not solid wood! We crawled out of bed every morning after that, no spring in our step!!

It was sad when we were lying on the white sandy beach and buying freshly cut pineapple and melon for twenty pence and then having a massage in the shade for two pound- you don't get this in castle duck!! We found ourselves lost in thought, either excited at the thought of seeing everyone or mortified we had got to get back to reality!!

We headed back to Bangkok for a final night before getting ready for our flight back to England. We brought more tat and filled our backpacks with cigarettes to sell once we got home- because let's face it we will be skint!! We had our last Thai meal and chang beer!!

It's always a good indication that it's a good time to come home when like me and vik on our last day, scratching around for our last pennies or in this case Baht's! Even the stalls were looking expensive- bring on Annie & Johnny's and Shelia's fridges- now that's cheap ha!!!

So the next morning we left our last scummy hostel room and pile of well used clothes behind us and made our way to the airport with butterflies in our tummies. We did have one really good thing to look forward to though- free wine on the plane, see not all dome and gloom!!

So next destination England, Stoke-on-Trent, home.................to be continued.