so... phuket... got there and lugged our bags to the best hostel ever!!! the on on hotel. It was in the film the beach and was the most filthy scary place ever!!! Loved every second of it. Looked like the set of a horror movie for sure - i was just hoping that if we did get killed it'd be a quick killing as opposed to a long suffering death!!! really fun though and defo what travelling is all about!! Went to kata beach for a bit of a day trip and got a boat from there to another random beach that lady boys were owners of - treat!! Managed to get sun burned to shizzle and also stung by a jelly fish. Claire almost stood on a snake and there were some alien worm thingys there sucking on rocks - definately an interesting place for sure. After phuket we had a dead long bus journey back to bangkok - the bus played some thai music - not just for one or two songs oh no... 2 flaming hours of it!!! after that a film came on - great we thought but we were shot down a treat when it was a thai movie. got into bangkok real early and i fel;l asleep over a sewer at the bus station - classy girl. We got dropped off a khoa san road - major backpackers destination. claire wasnt feeling well so me and beth went shopping (a lot) and then ate some locusts and grass hoppers before getting wasted with 2 scottish guys and LOTS of cocktails - the next day was not pleasant!!! got a sleeper train up tochiang mai from bangkok which took 15 hours - the bed was a treat though - slept like a log!!! Elephant trekking was awesome. was a wicked group of us - just 6 ppl for the 3 days. The elephant was awesome and i got to sit on its head and ride it after getting a bath from its trunk. The amount of snot elephants produce is just ridiculous!!! After we went walking up mountains. 3 hour walk to a waterfall where a swim was absolutely necessary and then off to a hill tribe village for the night. I have never seen so many stars in all my life - was incredible. more walking the next day up to another waterfall where we got lunch and then off further into the jungle to stay with a family in a hut. so much fun with lots of beer and locally produced tequilla/vodka. death!!! the next day clairey fainted and had to be taken to hospital. Dengue fever is not good - bloody mosquitos in krabi bit her a treat and so she was put on a drip for a few days. Me and beth went on a bit of a night out whilst clairey was in hospital. was a group of about 10 of us from our hotel, cant remember much but was a real good night. Felt like death the next day though - i wanted claires drip for sure and had a definate mouth like ghandi's flip flop!!! clairey got out of hospital today and so tonight hoping to go round the night markets again to buy yet more stuff... bye bye money!!! off to bangkok again tomorrow on the sleeper train ready for our flight to oz. Definately dont want to leave here though - gutted!!! More fun times to be had though for sure and time to make a bit of cash!!!