Scarred by the events on Phi Phi we left for Koh Lanta in the search of a footloose and fancy free time. The group separated into boys and girls, the female contingent were up and out with the sunrise, the males sticking with tradition took their time. Emily and Abi managed to find a really cool hostel, the Chill Out House on Long Beach which was run by a Canadian women, who's daughter had married a local Thai man and had lived there every since. Every night she would cook a 'house meal' for everyone that stayed there to make you feel at home. Martin and Lucas having been accosted by a local on the boat found themselves a bamboo bungalow on the other end of the same beach.

The following day Abi jetted off to Koh Tao leaving Emily to try her hand at travelling alone. Knowing that it was only for a few days and with the ability to be whoever she wanted, she remained herself and embraced the opportunity with both hands. Jumping on the back of her new hostel buddy's bike she took a tour around the island, stopping off at a market to try out some local delicacies followed by a coconut drink at the viewpoint and sunset on the beach, then back to the hostel for a visit to the newly opened bar for a free BBQ with the hostels current inhabitants.

Meanwhile on the other side Lucas was keen to ride the local pachyderms. So it was off across the island for the boys and a romantic two seater ride through rubber plantations in-sued. After a mighty steak the night life of the island was to be explored, 4 hours of tuk tuks, bars, beers and live music landed them in the local karaoke hotspot and a chance meeting with an amorous northern lass called Chloe was to start a storey not to end in Koh Lanta.