The journey was epic and so to cut it short I'll slim the story down - from a nice comfy overnight bus, I waited for hours at the border as the Thais have no concept of time and do everything at their own pace (once gotten used to is quite peaceful); I was then the only westerner on this rickety local bus which stopped at every single layby it came across, and to keep me entertained was a thai comedy show which, from what I gather, isn't that popular seeing as though no-one was laughing or even smiling on the bus! I then had an 8 hour wait ready for the overnight boat to the island, which after some tactical changing in a backstreet out of trousers and fleece (due to the a/c on the bus being on overdrive)into my shorts I bedded in and waited in the sun!

The night boat over was crammed with ppl trying to play dodge the bedbugs on mattresses lined up side by side. It was hard to keep to your inch of foam that they gave you without rolling on top of the person beside you! cosy!

Anyway, we got there, eventually, at dawn and from here Crystal diving awaited with a hut to myself and back to classes as a first installment for diving - oh joy! But saying that diving is awesome! I slightly had a mini attack at the very beginning when you try and get used to breathing under water for the first time - it's just not natural!! sodd the saying of it being like back in the womb - that certainly was not the case when you see what's floating past your eyes in a swimming pool!!! I can now say with pride though, I'm an Advnced Open Water diver. I've done deep dives, nature dives, navigation the lot but the Night dive was ammmazing. It just feels like you're in an aquarium the whole time - the water is so clear and the animals amazing colours. Some of the fish are just so ballsy they even nibble you! But you warn them...Fish Finger Butty mate if you try that again!

What was even better was half way through Durston and Amy arrived!! Great timing for celebrations for passing my course! My first experience on Sari beach with the buckets of Samsong.... let me just say - memorable!! It ended up with some lost flip flops, a bruised head from headbutting a door whilst using the many holes they call toilets out here (quite literally), meeting loads of randoms and forgetting their names the next day, and losing not only my camera but my friend's door key in the elusive bag which kept growing extra pockets every time we looked for something, meaning an extra early finish again before we came across it!

All in all, Koh Tao was the most chilled out place with white sandy beaches, clear waters, spectacular diving and plenty of sun. Though there was a lightning storm at one point (they're spectacular out here). It even hit the compression tank building and caused a small fire but fear not .. all was ok mini firefighters came out to save the day!

Which leads me into the fact that it's sooo nice to be surrounded my people my height! I'm not a midget anymore - in fact I'm verging on being classed in the tall range! first time ever!!!

This certainly helped when I made my way over in the blazing sun to Koh Pangang - aka Partay island! The beaches are sensational - long white sands with beautiful sunsets over the water, the millions of photo's that I've taken will fall testament to that! But what I went for was to celebrate Durston's coming of age into womanhood and old age at a half moon party which was held in the jungle...... Those buckets crept in yet again with just a hint of wisdom coming through as this time they were shared between 3 ppl... wise choice! Though bday girl was lost by the end of the evening which left Amy and I trawling the food counters for spring rolls - I think we ended up trying every piece of food that looked semi edible!

Haad Rin is buzzing the whole time and had amazing beaches and fire performers each night which kept us all entertained. That and my new found loving for banana shakes and banana-nutella pancakes (super yum) made my time in Thailand soo chilled and relaxed, It's made me unwind from years of intensities and stresses that have just slowly ebbed away. I recommend to anyone, London lot especially, to get their asses out to these islands and get some therapy even if you don't think you need it!