Well where to start... Shall I take you on a day-by-day account of my Thai Adventure? I think YES!

Departure Day - Decmeber 28th 2006 After a six hour bus trip and another hour bus trip we arrived at Kansai airport only to sit and wait for a couple hours until we could pick up our tickets. We then waited until we could check in, then waited til we could board the plane, then waited for take off... We flew with Air China and what a bad experience - no leg space at all, no entertainment but some dodgy music stations and always late. It was then a 4 hour wait in the worst airport ever, Beijing. Only 1 restaurant, no heating, plenty of duty free shopping and nothing else to do And the thought that this city will be host to the 2008 Olympics just baffles me! After a late boarding and take off of the next plane, we finally arrived in Bangkok only to be greeted by a half hour or so wait to get through immigration! Then to be greeted by our "LIMO" driver. Limo is definitely an understatement - dirty old Volvo complete with leather interior and diamonte locks does it more justice. As we turned down the street of the hotel, I was thinking, where the hell has Luke booked us into... The street was narrower than japanese streets and really run down but in the middle was this huge, expensive looking hotel, RELIEF! A huge room, mini bar and hot shower - what more could you ask for? 

Day 2 - Tuk Tuk Adventure As well rested travellers, we headed out into Bangkok, First on the list was the weekend markets. We were summoned at the front of the hotel by a taxi driver with a cheap promise, providgin we would go to a gem factory along the way, so he coul get a fuel voucher. Ok, we thought, this is harmless, only to be greeed at the front of the building by a solider with a machine gun!! We made it safely through, the driver got his voucher and took to the markets. And what awesome markets they were! The biggest ever, so easy to get lost, millions of tiny little stores trying to sell their fake goods. So, we of course, took advantage of this and started spending. A couple hours later we emerged and tried to get to the Golden Palace where apparently the emerald buddha lives. The destination was not reached as we took a Tuk Tuk, really cheap. The driver took us to a couple of places we wanted to see and a couple of thai silk suit makers (more fuel vouchers) and then left us at the marble temple, never to be seen again. After an arguement with another tuk tuk driver, we hailed a cab and headed back to the hotel. We then had a rest and joined a canal dinner cruise for the evening. Bangkok city is quite beautiful at night, providing you don't look into the canals!

Day 3 - MBK The biggest shopping centre ever! Oh my god, were we impressed! We first found our way to the hairdresser - cut, shampoo, treatment and blow dry for approximately $30 - very happy! Then we hit the shops, well more like markets, but there was five floors of endless stores! We, being smart shoppers, headed to the bag store and bought a new suitcase then started buying. Everything was unbelievably cheap and the store owners were more than happy to do a little bargaining if we felt $4 was too much! A must do place if you are ever in Bangkok. The evening saw us back at the airport and heading to Phuket for a fun-filled New Years Eve (it proved to be different). This time, however, we flew with Bangkok Airways and they are much, much better! After checking into our guest house, we headed to the party. Everywhere around Patong was a party, not so trouble finding something to do. First was dinner, some great thai food and bad drinks only to left feeling bloated and grosse. The beach was quite a sight, thousands of Aussies and Europeans drinking, letting off fireworks and lanterns into the sky - Beautiful. As the night went on, the Aussies (i can only assume) got crazier and drunker and we had to be on the look out for people setting fireworks off under your nose. Also my stomach got worse. A walk up the beach and a beer for Luke still no improvement. A most spectactular fireworks display at midnight - organised and dodgy ones that had been sold on the beach - beautiful all the same. My stomach still bad we headed cautiously back to our room. Cautiously i say, because thousands of people were heading the same direction and a few folks thought it would be amusing to set fireworks off in the middle of the crowd at random parts of the street. Dangerous! We did make it safely back though.

New Years Day - Not a Happy New Year I woke up in the wee hours of the morning in need of a spew. This continued for the rest of the day, paired with a nice round of diarrohea. Luke went on a mission to find drugs, but only found McDonalds, everything else was closed. So, i tried the drugs i got in Japan, turns out that only drugs from the country where you are ill can fix that particular illness. After a movie Luke again ventured out to find an open chemist, on his 3rd attempt (about 1pm) he found one with a miracle cure and forced them down my throat. Didn't really need to be forced though! And they were miracle drugs, I slowly recovered and made it out for half an hour for some food, a 2 hour nap was required after. Then an hour walk later and a very long nights sleep.

Day 4 - Patong Beach Exploration Although, a little energyless, I was keen to get out of my room. We headed out for breakfast and a wander around the streets. A few hours and shopping bags later, it was rest time, again. Then to the beach for a much awatied swim. However, the beach was filthy! Rubbish left from New Years and all the dirty foreigners in the water was a complete turn off and no swim was had. Next was to the Phuket FantaSea. A kind of theme park, its main attraction being a LA style theatre show complete with elephants, cows, chickens and a tiger! We first had a buffet dinner - good food but I was unable to give it a good go due to the previous day's events. Then a look around the stores and carnival games. We had our photo taken with a baby tiger - I got to feed him - so cute, i want one! Unfortunately, I can't put it on the web as it was only the hard copy. So cute! The hour and half long show was great! A story about Thai beginnings - dancing, theatrics, trapeze acts and a comedy act. The comedy act was good in the beginning but got rather boring. We were unable to take photos, so can't show you what it was all about but if you ever go to Phuket, its a must see.

Adventure Tour Day We awoke at the crack of dawn, only to find i set the alarm wrong and we still had another hour to sleep! OOPS! We rose an hour later and waited for our tour bus - which went to the wrong place and gave up on us. We were then picked up by a different tour bus and taken to meet our tour. First was an ATV adventure, more commonly known as 4 wheel motor bikes. It was a short track, with auto bikes - not that thrilling but of course Luke somehow managed to flip his bike arse over and go flying through the air! He only got a couple scratches - think the bike was worse off. Then we boarded the bus again and headed to the elephant trek! It was pretty cool, sitting up high on the elephant - disappointed that i didn't get to drive him but I can't have everything, i guess. We had the oldest, slowest, stubbornest elephant who kinda went where he wanted. We took photos of this on film so still working to get them changed to cd so we can upload them to the net. After that, it was a quick ox cart ride - uncomfortable and not so interesting but never done it before! We were then treated to an Elephant show, the baby elephants played the harmonica and danced for us. Then showed their strength by standing up on only thier back legs and front legs. Lastly they performed some Thai massages, people layed down on the ground and the elephant ever so gently stomped on their backs and gave them a few snotty kisses. One guy was treated to a Banana massage, where he had to lay on his back and I'll leave the rest up to your imagine... Once Again we boarded the bus and headed to the river. Lunch was had and a quick swim under a freezing cold waterfall, then the grand finally White Water Rafting. Definitely my favourite part of the day. Four people to a raft plus two instructors/guides (who did all the work). Everyone at the same time - including other tours, there was proably 20 or more rafts heading down the river for a game of bumper rafts! The first would get stuck on a rock, so the next would just slam into them and the'yd be on their way again. Occassionally, they didn't move and there'd be quite a pile up of rafts - fun times. Unfortunately, 3 rafts capsized, injuring their passengers - one guy went to hospital with a broken leg. Meanwhile the rest of us continued to the end of the course. At the end we all jumped into the back of an old ute, complete with 3 rafts on the trailor and about 6 crazy Thai instructors hanging off the side, in total there was 16 people. We stopped a little way up the road to pick up another raft and watch elephants have a swim - so cool! That oughta do for day 5.

The last day of sunshine Luke hired a scooter, as everyone does in phuket, and we headed south to a cleaner and quieter beach, Karon Beach. Here we found some beach chairs, thousand of sunbaking Europeans clad in Speedos or next to nothing, and clean water! The albino bodies were put in the direct sunlight and baked - very well done actually! We are both peeling nicley now. All along the beach they had stalls selling beverages and food and the odd sales man walking up and down selling sunglasses, nuts, and thai silk. We had a lovely bake and swim and then got back on the scooter and headed to the next beach, Kata Beach - also clean and beautiful. Lunch, some more baking and swimming and then back to the Airport for the excrutiating trip back to winter! After waiting to check in, getting through immigration, we found ourselves red as lobsters and aching for a shower. Our plane was of course, late to board and take off and a crappy one with no space and no entertainment - lucky I bought a new book! And then left it on the plane - damn! We arrived in Beijing in -5 degrees and had to get off the plane in the middle of nowhere and bused to the airport - so cold! As before the airport was cold and boring. Again late to board and late to take off, we left the snowy country and flew home. Boy, were we glad to be home! Not glad that it was cold and gloomy or that I had to go back to work the next day or that our summer holiday was over, but glad to be off that damn airplane! Avoid Air China at all costs!

Overall, it was a great holiday. Thai people are so friendly and more than happy to help if it means you'll buy something from them. There was far more Aussies and Europeans than expected, Phuket almost felt as though we were in Australia - Aussie food, Aussie clothing brands, Aussie products and Aussies everywhere. Definitely nice to feel at home. Phuket has made a great recovery from the tsunami, you'd never know to look at it. Both cities appeared poorer than expected, i guess thats why everything is so cheap. The land is beautiful and they certainly love their king - his picture was everywhere. Apparently he is the longest reining king ever, 60 years I think. Thailand is Definitely on the list for another visit some time.