Hello,

First post from Thailand even though I've been here over a week! First few days in Bangkok were hectic and very sweaty but it's a great city. Crossing the road requires a lot of braver, walk slowly never run!

I then caught an overnight bus down to the islands (the monks sitting in front of me enjoyed Die Hard 4 on the coach trip.) First stop was K Samui for a few days. I've perfected the knack of lying in a hammock all day, reading, getting up only to get a nice chilled tiger beer. I did take a kayak out for a spin to do some exercise. Samui is great, a bit over developed and a bit lonely because the place was full of families.It wasn't easy finding anyone under fifty but over the age of eight!

I've now been in ko phangan for four days and it's beautiful. I stayed in a secluded beach called Hat Yao for first three days. Some stunning sunsets, more hammocks and clear sea to snorkel in. I met a terrific group of six canadians who I ate lots of dinners with and hit the full moon party on Hat Rin with. The party was beserk, thousands of people on the beach with plenty of fire limbo dancing, stupid face paints and buckets of thai whisky with red bull. And last night, with the canadians, we picked out our own fresh fish (sea bass!) and had them barbequed for us with plenty of salad whilst sitting on the beach at high tide. It's a tough life...

Off to Ko Tao tomorrow and meeting a couple of friends from London to do our diving certification! Woo!

Hope everybody's well,

Lerve

Jonny