Hello all and greetings from Thailand! I managed to arrive safe and sound, if rather hot and bothered from 36 hours of travelling! The journey was eventful to say the least - my hotel in Bangkok was filled to the brim with tourists who had been evacuated from Phi Phi and Phuket, most of them injured in some way and all obviously traumatised. Needless to say that I didn't have a good nights sleep, but compared to what those poor people had been through I count myself very lucky. Anyway, after getting up 2 hours before I needed to (think my body clock got stuck in a random time zone - DOH!) I finally managed to make it back to Bangkok airport for my flight to Koh Samui. The flight ended up being delayed by 2 hours - because the air line had sent our plane to collect bodies. A grim but very commendable exercise. I finally got to Koh Samui two and a half hours late and was met by (not sure of spelling but this is how it sounds!) Darooney. I have never been so glad to see anyone waving a big sign with my name on in my life! After 36 hours of constantly thinking where I was going and trying to get myself in the right place, it was fantastic to know that I didn't need to think anymore and that someone was there to do all that for me! Another of the POD teachers, Cath, was due to arrive shortly but she was delayed too, so Darooney and I waited at the airport. And what do all girlies do when they have time to kill!??! Go for a massage in the spa of course! Aaah - it was bliss! I had an hour long body massage (which included the little Thai lady walking on me with all 4 stone of her!) - cold flannels placed all over me and a cup of lovely green tea - all for the princely sum of 190 THB - about 2 pounds 10!! (This Thai keboard is bizarre - nothing is quite where it should be and there are no pound signs - obviously!) Cath finally arrived and Darooney took us to the pier to get the boat to Koh Phangan. It was absolutely rammed with travellers - and I was quite excited to get on the boat - it made a change to planes at least! I was excited - till the sea got really rough and my excitement rapidly turned into sickness and an extreme need to pass out! I did manage to hold off being sick though - thank God! When we got to KOh Phangan we were met by Jirapan who is Thai but speaks perfect English. She managed to flag down a passing tuk tuk and tell the driver where we needed to go - which was good because Cath and I had absolutely no idea! The tuk tuk ride was like a rollercoaster - the roads are mad here - all up and down - I thought we were going to have to get out and push at one point! We are now staying at the My Palace rooms in Ban Tai. It's not actually where we were meant to be staying - but again the island is full of tourists either trying to get out of the affected areas or who were planning to go there. Anyway, it's like a little holiday camp and is run by a lovely Thai lady called (rather confusingly) Man!! She doesn't look like one - but in this country you never can be quite sure! My room is really big - with a door at the front and back and even has a little patio made of rubble! I guess they might get round to finishing it one day! It's basic and simple but generally quite comfortable - apart from the freezing shower - I don't DO cold showers - even in this country! We chilled out for a bit and then Jirapan and Alex (again from POD) came to meet us and took us for a tour of Ban Tai, which took all of 5 minutes! There really isn't much here - a couple of internet places, some thai shops and the all important 7-11! It seems to be the hub of everything round here! We went for dinner at a place on the beach - called Liberty. I had Pad Thai with prawns and 2 Singha beers - for about 1 pound 20 - really pushed the boat out there! We sat on the floor watching Oceans Eleven - all quite bizarre but sooo relaxing! I slept well - for about 2 hours at a time! Think the body clock is still traumatised! Today we are off to Had Rin - to the shops! Need to get a watch to try and help with body clock issues! Then tonight we are off to a New Years party on the beach - can't wait! So happy new year to you all (cos I'll get there before you do!) - wishing you all a great night - hope you don't get too cold in the taxi queue - ha ha!! Love to everyone - don't forget to leave me some messages! xxx