Hi everyone,

Left smelly Bangkok full of excitement for the next part of the adventure, Bangkok left us needing a bit of a chill out time and fresh air. We booked to go to Krabi which is a tourist beach resort in the south coast with a man called 'Johnny' who said " you are my family now, i will look after you with safe clean and cheap place to stay right on the beach" After 12 hours on a coach, being dropped off in the middle of nowhere and charged twice to get to this lovely clean beach front bungalow that turned out to be far from safe ( windows selotaped up) clean (heaved when we walked in- that says it all) and ten minute walk from beach, at this point we lost all faith in our little Thai mate Johnny!!!!!!

We can sit and laugh about this now and we are leaving tomorrow so we have obviously survived the ordeal. As it turned out we have had a really good time in Krabi, mainly chilling out on the beach and getting a bit tipsy at night.

The beach is absolutely beautiful white sand, surrounded by islands dotted about on the horizon! The sea is so shallow and clear you can walk out for nearly two miles without it going past your waist! The weather is boiling all day, then goes overcast in the afternoon and has the cheek to spoil our afternoon siesta by heavy rain pelting on the metal roof !!This only lasts an hour and then its back to sun sun sun!!! (sorry)

We went on a boat to another beach (just like Parga) on the coast of Krabi, This was Hat Rei lei! What an amazing place of beauty, picture postcard encased in limestone cliff faces and open seas!! (me, vik and lisa thought it would be clever to go down to factor 20 with it being the hottest day so far in a sun trap beach!)(still not learnt after years of being burned every holiday) Steph had factor forty and still felt the burn It was that hot!!! We had a lazy few hours there and then got the boat back to Krabi!!!

Lets talk about food favourite subject!!

Weve been going out to eat but sticking to the budget!!! Found a great place called A-one where we have breakfast, musili or bacon and eggs, we had full english today with coffe and juice and the works!!! Typical english seeking out the brekkie on the first day steph "n" Vik determined find a sunday lunch next, but it would be futile because its never as good as mum's make!!

Weve been eating quite healthily, lots of thai food, seafood and noodles, we'd all be six stone if it wasnt for the bloody full english brekkie and the chocolate biscuits, oh and of course alcohol!!

All this Thai food sar got Thai tummy!!!! Our main conversations have strangely focused around food and toilet habits, we are all intimate and aware of each others movements !!!!

Had a good night in a great cafe bar we found close to home!!! Had a few drinks and Sarah learned the swinging balls, you would of thought she had been doing it all her life she was fantastic, we are all so proud, the best part she learned a whole routine!!!!!! Superstar!!!! We signed her up for Britains got talent!!!!!

We also learnt some Thai words and we are getting there with a few phrases!!

Vikki our connect four champ (nicknamed Carol cause of her amazing mathematical brain) played there connect four champ, vik let him win coz we didnt want to appear rude lol!!!

We went on a sightseeing tour, we went on an elephant trek it was fantastic we all really enjoyed it but it was a bit cruel on the elephants cause they were chained up (Amy you would of cried, we nearly did) but it was an experience not to be missed!!

We then continued onto the Tiger Cave Temple! As soon as we got there the wild monkeys were trying to pinch our stuff it was like being in Trentham (or at the tavern) but loads hotter and in the jungle!

We walked up 100's of steps (shock to the system the most exercise we've done all week) and walked around the jungle scary stuff- loads of huge spiders (Jayne you would'nt of stood a chance) then to the famous tree that's 1000 years old. We then went to see where the monks lived and they blessed us all, I nearly got one of them the sack as i went to touch him, the monk quickly moved. The guide told us they wernt aloud any female contact oops, shame the stoke lads arent the same!

The tour then took us to 'crystal lagoon' we again had a long walk through the jungle whilst singging lion king sound track (reminded sarah of martha aghh) and this time the thai people weren't lying because it really was crystal clear water natural waterfall! We stuck out like sore thumbs with our pasty white bodies and bare flesh!! All the Thai families that were bathing were fully dressed "Vik thought it was like a thai waterworld!"

We then went onto the natural Hot Springs OH MY GOD!! It derived from small eruptions of 60 degree waters coming from the mountains and down a waterfall into a hot pool! This was absolute heaven being up to your neck in 40 degree water then climbing down into a cold pool to fully envigorate your senses! Steph and Vik particularly enjoyed this as unlike sar n lisa (who have a shower with a temp gauge) they have had a cold water hose from a hole in the wall!!!!

Went out last night for Steph's birthday got sloshed on cheap Thai wine (that you heaved with every mouthful) and then sang all the way home until we got shouted at by a big fat german in his pants!!! He wasn't so miserable the night before when he left the curtains open for all to see his bedroom antics! steph is scarred for life!!!

Just chilling and packing up today ready for the next step! we are getting the boat to Phi Phi for a couple of days and we'll update you with more then ....

Love you all loads thinking of you all the time love Sarah, Vik, steph and lisa xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx