Next up was our week holiday in Ko Samui. We were meant to be meeting Phil's mum and dad here, but unfortunately Tim could not make it as he was starting his new job in Manila on the first day. So it was up to Denise to keep us company for the week!

We had a great week together; we had hired a jeep so were able to travel around the island whenever we felt like it! We were based in some lovely bungalows in Chaweng, right on the beach, making breakfast by the sea a great start to every morning! A highlight was also the dinner on our first night where we had a range of seafood on the beach....you could not ask for a more perfect setting or tasty food. Sport dominated our first few evenings, with tennis and the Lions game being enjoyed with a good few drinks! Apart from that we spent a day with Denise's friend, Urai, getting a Thai cooking lesson in her kitchen, as well as being shown the best restaurants to eat in!! We visited Bo Put, a lovely fishing village, walked along the beaches, took in a few viewpoints, and a disappointing waterfall, and we ate loads of tasty food!!! We could have easily stayed there another week just trying all the restaurants that we wanted!! On our final day we booked into a cooking course, hoping for better than we got last time....and we weren't disappointed. It was very well run and we made some great Phad Thai, Coconut soup and a green curry.

Our most memorable evening was going to the Cabaret show....Denise had been years ago and recommended it to us! So we all set off to watch Britney, Rihanna, Whitney and co strut their stuff on stage....and we really do mean strut with a very limited amount of clothing on....these 'ladies' aren't shy!!!!!! After they entertained us for about 45mins it was photograph time...now Phil and Denise weren't willing to part with any money for a picture, but Shane decided that Rihanna was worth the 2.5e!!! (Big spender!!!) So we got a lovely picture of them together and headed towards the exit. Shane lead the way, which he may live to regret for many years to come...as he was leaving a 'lady' from the show leaned in for a kiss....being ever the gentleman he obliged with a peck on the cheek, clearly she wasn't happy with that as she reached for the love spuds and gave them a tweak.....which lead to a very traumatised Shane making a beeline for the bar across the road and a swift beer!!! Or 2, while Phil and Denise had a good laugh!! It was priceless.....

Sadly the next morning it was time for Denise to fly back to Manila, while we returned to the world of overnight buses, heading up to Bangkok for a couple of days, before heading to Cambodia.