Well you will all be pleased to know but not half as pleased and relieved as us that we are now finally in Thailand!!!!!

1st impressions are that we are going to love, love, love this country. It's a million times different to India, thank God. Clean streets, lovely people, no way near as smelly, better food (if you hadn't guessed alot of our time and decisions revolve around what to eat and when so having a good choice is vital!)

Bangkok is an awsome place and there was very little sign of the recent problems, i was expecting it to be a bit busier but hey who cares! We all headed out for food and a well deserved beer as soon as we got there, that night we and a friend we'd met (Kay) all headed to Pat Pong which i guess you could call the go-go / lady boy show area. Quite a fun night although being kicked out of one place by female Thai bouncers was a bit scary and not to be experienced again, i did make friends and had a long conversation with one lady boy, the usual conversation about how good his boobs looked ect and tried to help him get a few a dances...

The next moring i have never felt that hungover before in my life and had no other option but to stay in bed the whole day, bucket by my side...never underestimate the power of CHANG!!!!!! I've warned you!!!

Feeling much better the next day the boys showed me around Koh San Road (which they'd explored the previuos day while i was out of action) Great place to people watch and buy pretty much anything. The following day Steve and I went to the Golden temple, took a boat down the river, along the canals and a quick trip on the bus only missed out on the sky train which we'll have a go on when we return. The shopping mall in Bangkok is out of this world, i died and went to heaven, beats anything we've got back home.

We're now in Chiang Mai and deciding on what to do, it's mostly trekking orietated here which consists of elephant riding, visiting the tribes of the long necks, bamboo and white water rafting. Steve and I are off to an elephant conservation tomorrow where they rehabilitate orphaned and poorly sick ellies, i'm really excited about going here and my money will go to a good cause for these beautiful creatures who often get worked till their death.

We're still making plans for Christmas but hope to be in Vang Vien in Laos for Christmas, it's going to be a bit of a mission to get there so we're swatting up with the help of the good ol guide book.

Hope you're all well and getting ready for crimbo, big hugs to all.

Dee, Steve and Roger