Arriving late evening in Phuket we nervously waited for Felix to try his replacement card as if it didn't work we would be on the streets that night with no money to our name. It did work, and although it was only a small amount he could withdraw, it had us a few nights' accommodation in Phuket town, the cheap district of Phuket, so that evening we slept fine. The next day was spent weighing up options of what we could possibly do with the money we had, how we could ration food, and what was worst case scenario. We weren't in particularly optimistic moods given our current location. For two days we did very little besides the odd trip to the 7/11 for resupplying. We did decide in the end that although very short of money we couldn't just waste away and so we made the day trip to Patong, the nice coastal region in Phuket. To save money, Felix and I thought it best to share a moped, having never been on the back of a moped before I now never wish to do so again. Navigating our way around traffic on Phuket's main motorway on a very slim little bike that barely fit one person never mind two, we did well to make it. The trip was worth the traumatic journey there however with lunch overlooking the beach in the boiling hot sun, and exploring the touristy streets that were home to literally hundreds of bars, all lined up together. A very frustrating sight as if only we had money to blow on all of these bars and clubs. A solid day that also involved Hyams developing the most spectacular vest tan line I have ever seen and my puncturing of the moped tire only 5 minutes into our return journey, a day that was a pleasant distraction from our financial troubles. The following day we had intended on setting off for our next destination KohPhi Phi, but with still no bank cards and now literally no money or place to stay we were praying for a miracle, which is exactly what happened in the form of a little Thai courier man. We had received our new bank cards and were ecstatic. It was around 12.30pm when our cards arrived, by 1.30pm we were on a boat on our way to Phi PhiIsland.

I must add a little note of apology to my followers after a dismally poor performance with keeping up to date with blogs. I have just been so busy or intoxicated or burnt to add to my travel blog but I am back now and for good. Koh Phi Phi we were looking forward to having heard strong reports all round. We soon discovered the main activity we would be involved in on this island would be the consumption of various cheap and vile brands of rum with the odd beer to wash it down. This was indeed the case for the week that we were on the island, but we weren't entirely devoted to this. We did make a boat trip around the island to monkey beach … a beach that was home to two dozen monkeys, and then onto the famous spot where 'The Beach' was filmed. Getting to this spot involved acting as if in some sort of big action movie. The boats couldn't take us right up to the step ladder onto the bit of land so we were dropped off into the choppy rock invested water and made to swim for it. For myself this was made even tougher by my fresh bit of ink I had on my arm from the day before which I was supposed to keep out of water for three days. So picture me on my back in the water, one arm in the air and the other clinging onto our waterproof bag with all of our cameras in, negotiating my way around sharp rocks that the large waves were pushing us into and then climbing up a very questionable step ladder on the side of a rock face, yes I was mistaken for Jason Bourne. I would like to add a little note about my bamboo tattoo I had on the inside of my arm, I'm pleased with it and it looks good but it was the most painful experience I have ever endured and hope I ever endure. My advice would be to get a small one if ever for some suicidal reason tempted to get ink put into your body by the process of a sharp needle on the end of a bamboo stick. As the week progressed I was wishing the time away despite antics such as Hyams parading the streets with a performing monkey on his shoulder and the constant drunken attempts, sometimes successful, at climbing the big pole in the middle of a club just for the sake of a picture. The reasoning for my wishing the time away was the countdown to the Champions League final and as we left Phi Phi for the rather remote island of KohLanta the only thing I had on my mind was whether there was a bar to watch the game in.