Before we talk about that though both of us realised that we did not mention anything about the Kings 60th anniversary of his sucession to the throne, witch is pretty bad because it is not like you could miss it. It was everywhere. Fortunately we were in Bangkok for it which was very lucky because if we had gotten our own way we would have been in Phuket and we would have missed the whole thing.

The actual finale of the 5 day event was the night before we left and it was incredible, everywhere was a sea of yellow (the colour associated with his regime) and I do mean everywhere. People ranging from little 5 yer old kids to teenagers all the way up to their grandparents were wearing these bright yellow t-shirts and waving the Thai national flag. It seemed as though the main festivities were taking place on the main road that runs through the center of Bangkok. We were on Khao San road when we noticed alot of people making their way to the main road. By the time we got there the crowd was already 5 deep from the kirb but seeing as the average height of a Thai person is 5'8" I had no trouble seeing over the crowd to see what was going on. I did even think about offring my services as a high chair at 20 Baht a go but thought better of it! All that seemed to be happening was a constant flow of cars that had dignatries from various countries waving at the crowd, and with each wave the passing car got a cheer from the crowd. Then after a while the big one came. In a realatively plane looking Mercedes S class the King arrived and the whole place errupted. People where blowing whistles, shouting and waving, just generally going absoultely mental for their Monarch.

Then as soon as it started it stopped. This was single handedly one of the most surreal things that as ever happened to either of us. There were people crying, properly sobbing because they had just caught a fleeting glance of their King. You just don't have that kind of love for the royal family at home, or respect.

So for now we are in Chiang Mai, and will update soon.

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Rach would also like to point out that she knows that they are all in mumbo jumbo order and it is not her fault and that she is just as unhappy about it as you. I however think that she is lazy and could change it if she wants to. See you soon!

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We have been a bit lazy since we have been in Koh Samui because the island is soooo lovely the people have been extra specialy nice and the weather (with the exception of last night) has been really good to us.

I suppose I had better bring you up to speed on what we have been doing since our soaking on the kayaking trip. Well the night we left Krabi we got talking to a couple from New Zealand called Terry and Amy, who incidentally were half cut having jus come back from the bar down the road, and we discovered that Terry was actually from the same neck of the woods as me albeit jus down the road in Bishops Waltham. We also found out that he was best mates with the guy that used to live next door to me as well as the a chap on my football team. What an unbelievably small world eh? Even half way around the world and I still can’t get away from the 'Ford!

The morning we left we decided to name the adorable kitten that had been hanging around the bungalows since our arrival, Rooney. An original name I know but I just thought the irony of it was too much.

The trip its self was a right performance. To take us to the bus stop we had the most suicidal driver we have had so far, who seemed intent on getting us there in record time. We however just wanted to get there. We got there.... just in one piece but we then had to wait for nearly 2 hours for the bus to come with the rain hammering down and the lady, who owned the travel agents/ hostel/ shop that we were waiting in, saying "The bus be here in 5 minutes." Then when the bus finally did come it was full. But never fear when there is a will there is a way, to save our legs from standing the whole 3 hours it was to the ferry port, the driver and his mate broke out "the emergency chairs" although to call them chairs would do them a great service. They were little plastic stools and they were as comfortable as sand in your crutch. At this point however we did not care we just wanted to get there. The journey itself was pretty uneventful, we just had the annoyance of the posh British girls behind us asking each other silly immature questions and the block headed American guy who couldn't decide if he wanted his chair up or down, each time smacking my knee as it came down.

When we came to the ferry port, I especially was very cranky and when we discovered that one of our bags was soaked I had a little rant to myself which didn't really help matters, but I eventually got over it and we had a little wait for the ferry to come in and then we hopped aboard. All in all it took about an hour and a half to get to Koh Samui and when we got there we jumped on another mini bus with two Swiss, a family of French and two Irish guys. The Swiss were in the first mini bus with us and we were making idle chat with them when one of them asked me weather or not if I thought the French football team would go through to the second round of the world cup. I of course gave the standard Englishman’s response to this question of "I hope not there are all too arrogant and I hope this teaches them a lesson." I didn't realize that the family in front and behind us was French.

Since that exciting first day we have done the usual shopping, swimming and sleeping. We have really enjoyed our time on Koh Samui. Watching the Muay Thai kickboxing was a great deal of fun. Rach came out with quote of the holiday so far when she said "Don't do that you will hurt him" after watching one of the fighters ankle kick his opponent. That’s kind of the point my love. For the record he did hurt him just after that dislocating his ankle shortly afterwards.

We are now on our way to the airport. Rach is being very brave at the moment and is facing up to the fact that she is going on an airplane. We saw one fly overhead yesterday that had propellers, and I had to reassure her that was not our plane because it flew over at the wrong time. I don’t think she bought it.

See you in Chang Mai!

The beautiful island of Koh Samui remains copyright of the author BodgenRach, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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The first day we got here was eventful because we needed a new camera after the events on Koh Phi Phi,(that we won't go into)we were sent on a wild goose chase for a phantom shopping centre in Ao Nang after we were told by the staff at our bungalows was here. When we realized that there wasn't one here we were resigned to looking in the Kodak and Fuji film shops, that have a limited stock at best, we did find a big shop and settled for a sexy little number that I think was well worth what we paid for it and Rach has struggled to put down since she bought it so she must be happy with it.

Yesterday we embarked on an interesting trip kayaking, that I was a little apprehensive about as I am not that best of swimmers and I did not fancy the kayaks chances with us two heffalumps on it! As it was the trip was very interesting filled with seeing historical parts of Krabi, enthusiastic and very informative guides, and of course struggling to get in and out of the kayak. Although no-one fell in, Rach did manage to cause a stir by slipping up on some very wet rocks and hurting her hand, but there was no real damage done. For those who have not been in a kayak it is not that simple, as Rach and I found out. I was in the back and was in charge of steering, that I did to the best of my ability but I was still rubbish at it as Rach was quick to point out. After the first cave however I did sort of get the hang of it but I won't be going to the Olympics any time soon. After lunch we went out again to a lagoon which was absolutely astonishing to look at as when we got there the rain was lashing down into the lagoon and looked just stunning. After floating out into the middle and getting soaked we were pulled into cover by one of our guides and Erik the surprisingly eloquent Dutchman who was on the trip with us. We had to head back to the camp and the rain was still bucketing down and we had to kayak back as quickly as our oars would let us (which was pretty slowly) and we were in the dry but drenched and in our wisdom both of us totally didn’t even think that it would be a good idea to bring a spare set of clothes or even a towel so we had to wring out our shirts as best we could and set in the back of the mini bus like drowned cats.

On the way back we stopped off at a natural bath. I really wanted to jump in but I was told it would be best not to as I would get soaked...again and I was drying off at this point, so I decided not to. We both got our Lloyd Grossman eating badges when we tried BBQ'd banana and coconut in grass leaf. Sounds wonderful I know but it really was. We were unsure how to unwrap it but we were shown by Tracy a New Zealander who was very eager to see our reaction as she had already eaten it and I think was disappointed because we both quite liked it.

We had to take a trip to the pharmacy because Rach had picked up a throat infection and is nursing it as we speak so I had to look after her last night.

The weather is no good here today but hopefully it is better on Koh Samui.

See you soon.

Kayaking in Krabi remains copyright of the author BodgenRach, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Phuket was nice. Our hotel was beautiful and the people there made us feel very welcome, it was quite posh compared to the places we have stayed in prior to this. We had welcome drinks and cold towels! Our room had a brilliant view, well worth the 100 steps you have to climb to get to it.

We spent the afternoon wandering along the beach. Patong beach, though very touristy, is lovely and clean. Barrie went para-sailing which he says was brilliant. I'm thinking of having a go myself when we get to Koh Samui, thats if I don't chicken out.

So today we arrived on Phi Phi Island. It's possibly the most beaauuuttiiiffullll place we've ever been. Though my experience has been somewhat soured .. I fell out a boat with my camera around my neck and now it is not working. Laugh you may .. I am distraught, and have had a good boo about it. Hoping the memory card hasn't been effected as I did take quite a few photos as we were approaching the island ferry point. Still, I must try not let this ruin my holiday. Barrie says it was very amusing. I still don't see the funny side. Not just has my beloved camera broken but I also turned up to the hotel looking like I'd swam to Phi Phi Island and the polite lady at reception asked "Is there something wrong?".

I don't have much else to say right now being as we have only been here half a day. The water is crystal clear in most places, looking forward to a swim tomorrow and have considered going on a snorkelling trip. Most places we passed getting to our resort show no signs there ever was a tsunami, although near to the ferry point there is a bit of washed up rubble and such. Clearly they have done very well in rebuilding their island and it hasn't lost its natural beauty.

For now no photos, I'm afraid.

Phuket and Phi Phi Island remains copyright of the author BodgenRach, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v432/lladro_doll/

Click on the Thailand Travels album.

I'm having trouble naming them and editing them, you may get a stiff neck looking at some of them. Also after uploading them, they are in mumble jumble order. And there was a smear on my lens .. you may notice. =o(

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We arrived on Koh Chang on the 7th and stayed 4 nights, I already wish we had stayed longer. It was absolutely beautiful and when we get the chance I will definately upload photos. The views were fabulous, no matter how many times you looked out of your bungalow window, or over the edge of the hilltop roads, it was never boring.

Koh Chang means island of elephant, and whilst we probably should have gone on an elephant trek being as that is what the island is named after, we instead spent every day lounging by the pool and beach and going on drives up and down the hilly island, stopping to buy a bottle of 30bht gasoline every now and then, and eating good Thai food.

The moped riding was an experience in itself. Some of the hills it climbed with us two on it, well its a wonder how it made it up them. All I could do was laugh. I think it was a combination of sheer fright and a mad rush of adrenaline as we reached the top of the hills and went rushing down. And of course I pulled off the the sexy helment look, haw haw.

Barrie's kangarooing incident with the moped almost took him on a non-stop tour of a few of the local shops, much to the locals amusement, and of course mine too. In fact, I'm laughing as I type this. Barrie however, is keen to add that I also had a kanagrooing incident with the moped, on trying to drive it I almost crashed in to a cliff. The little Thai lady who rents out the bikes, laughed somewhat sympathetically at me, but also as if to say almost every 'farang' I see does that. And then proceeded to talk Thai at me and do all sorts of hand motions. Needless to say, I never tried riding the thing again. Captain Barrie was left in charge, as I provided the ultimate cruising song .."driving down the road, tryin' loosen my load, I got seven women on my mind".

Now we are back on Khao San Road, and leave tomorrow evening for Phuket. We plan to stay there one night and then head to Koh Phi Phi for a couple nights.

For now, safe driving peoples.

Kangarooin' Moped Action remains copyright of the author BodgenRach, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Just to say a bit more about Kanchanaburi as our last post was very brief .. it was beautiful there. Very green and not as built up as places like here in Pattaya and in Bangkok. We visited Kanchanaburi War Cemetry where hundres of WW2 POW's are buried, the cemetry is really peaceful and well looked after. We also visted the Death Railway museum. It was interestingly .. tacky? There is a small part of the original railway that the POW's built you can see and not much else. Its not very well looked after. We then attempted to walk along the "Bridge over the River Kwai" but that didnt last long, too many Korean Tourists, nothing to hold on to and the structure is full of big gaps? .. and I don't like heights.

I'm not sure there are such things as health and safety laws in Thailand, there is no one to control how many people are on the bridge and when a train comes you just have to find somewhere to get out to way. Anyhow, we also went bamboo rafting, elephant trekking (which was an experience indeed, especially for Barrie) and to see a waterfall.

I'm having trouble uploading photos so here are a few .. if it works.

We leave Pattaya tomorrow for Koh Chang. It's nice here but 4 days is quite enough.

The title of our entry comes from our hotel door breaking on more than one occasion and the severe 1st degree (joke) burns we have got. All fun though!

Check out us babes. Haw haw.

Sunburn and broken door handles remains copyright of the author BodgenRach, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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We're hoping to leave for Chiang Mai tomorrow night, Bangkok isn't somewhere you'd want to stay longer than a couple days, or so we think.

Not much to write about at the moment as we've only been here 2 days. Will update when we can. x

Sawadee Kha! remains copyright of the author BodgenRach, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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