I'm typing this with a bandaged index finger that I had to redress myself this evening - I look like I have permanently have a bobble-head finger puppet on. Yes, sadly Bangkok hit me hard. Throat, nose, finger, toe - I went to the hospital with not one but four issues. I wound up having minor finger surgery. My favourite part of this experience was watching the horror film (think a Thai Saw) in the waiting area. Good one that.

Really my favourite part was, on seeing that I was bricking it about a doctor sticking two very large needles in my finger, held my (other) hand and rubbed my arm to calm me down (not in a creepy way). Having spent a good part of 6 weeks with them now, I can safely say the vast majority of Thai people are the most caring and helpful people. One woman, seeing I was lonely, offered me some of her dinner at the train station the other day. I only had to look at a map for someone to try, come hell or high water, to help me around. Even the tuk tuk drivers sometimes tell you where to go to get a taxi if you're firm enough. It's actually pretty damn inspiring.

I've also acquired so many souvenirs (ie potential pyjama bottoms) that I need another bag to carry them all, which I bought in a flurry of South East Asia's largest market excitement (imagine Camden Market on speed). It's definitely a real Jimmy Choo. Trying to fit a straw hat and a handmade parasol into a rucksack at 6 30am on a sleeper train ain't pretty though. Getting off was even more of a dilemma.

Tomorrow I board a boat, a slow boat (it takes 2 days to get to our destination). At least I'm no longer a solo backpacker. I only experienced this for athe brevity of one week - it certainly had its ups and downs in that short time, and it's a challenge but a very interesting one at that. I had a crazy night in Bangkok with two lovely girls I met on the journey from Koh Samui. Other the other hand, I had to endure a 3 hour train delay with a Canadian who wouldn't stop moaning about travelling and how much walking he's done (tuk tuks cost like 50p, he needed to get a grip). Not only this, but he proceeded to show me several *videos* of hotels he had stayed at (why?!) which included one of him lying down talking with a cigarette in his mouth. Also he was wearing a ridiculous cowboy hat. My attempts to escape his anger at the further delay to our train were futile - we had the happy coincidence of being in the same carriage, and he had a bottle of whisky he wanted to share. I dodged a bullet when his bunk fellow was a mutual moaner and I pretended to fall straight asleep. It was a bloody Weston Super, I'll tell you that much for free. There again, my bunk fellow was a friendly Thai woman with a friendly and smiley kid so it certainly ain't all bad.

Anyway, adios Thailand, it's been an absolute bloody pleasure.