After the scariest, most uncomfortable journey so far I managed to make it, in just about one piece, to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. Spent a few days chilling, wandering around wats and pondering life as a Buddhist nun.... nah, can't see it myself either! A day at Thai Cooking School has finally led me to the point of no return - I have now: eaten meat by mistake; then by choice to try something; then actually ordered it in a restaurant; now I can cook it...

After crossing over the border from Cambodia into Thailand with only a minor bout of embarrassment (I'll leave Tim to confess that to those of you that know him...) we got the boat over to Koh Chang. Amazingly none of the modes of transport broke down... Hurrah! We spent a chilled day sat in the sunshine at a bar watching the 1st Ashes test series. I actually understood the majority of what was happening too thanks to early tuition from Casswell followed up b...