Are you sitting comfortably? It's going to be a big entry today! Plan was to get up at 5 for being picked up at 6, but I woke at 3.30 and couldn't get back to sleep again. We were picked up at 6, then went in by other hotels to pick up other people doing the same tours as us. There were 3 from Dubai, a really obnoxious Japanese guy and his wife, a young married (I think) couple from Australia, a couple from Austria and 2 ladies from Chile. Quite multicultural, eh? After an hour and a half, we got on a long tailed speed boat that took us to the floating market. This took about half an hour. We immediately got on a boat paddled by some old woman (felt bad, maybe should have offered to help!), and went past all the boats selling goods. There was boats with spices, handicrafts, fruit, clothes, bags and heaps of other stuff. Merle bought a bag for 600 baht down from 800, but that was her opening bid, so she could have got it cheaper. I enjoyed my coconut drink from the boat. After a while, we got off and saw the stalls on land. I managed to get some nik naks for 120 baht down from 300. Now that's how to do it! We both bought some gifts, then had to leave for out lift again. Next was the Elephant rides. For less than 8 quid, we got a 20 minute ride on an elephant. It was really cool. We were given a brolly to shade us (I know it looks pink, but it's not) too. We went through the forrest and a small pond. The guy in front lost his flip flop in the pond! After seeing the elephants was the Royal Thai Handicraft centre. Pretty much all arts & crafts here, but bought some surfer style jewellry for myself. Merles bag was available here, and for only 405 bahts. Conned! We then went to see a snake show. There was guys throwing about cobras, messing with boas and all sorts of stuff. One guy caught a cobra in his mouth! We also saw a mongoose kill a cobra. After the show was over, Merle and I got to hold one of the snakes. I think it was a Royal (Ball) python. There was a buffet lunch provided for everyone doing tours (there must have been hundreds of people in all). Think something didn't aggree, as I had a dicky stomach for the rest of the day. The Elephant show was good fun. They reinacted old wars, did tricks, danced, and even played football. They had the Elephant world cup. Surprise surprise, the Beckham elephant put his penalty over the bar! Ronaldinho put on a skill show, dribbling the ball up to the keeper, stopping short, then blasting it into the top corner. He was a good likeness, his tusks were massive! A crocodile show was next on the agenda. It dodn't last long, but the guys put there arms and heads in the crocs mouth, down it's throat and pulled them by the tail to get them annoyed. We saw a traditional Thai dance show at the Rose Gardens last on the tour. There was all sorts of dancing, some Thai Boxing (Muay Thai), and a marraige ceremony. The day had been really long, so I started nodding off towards the end. Then it was into our bus and back to the hostel. That's the whole day really.