So....I know I haven't written for aaaaggggges!! But computers aren't always as readily available (and when they are they are usually pretty slow) in Thailand!

So when I left off I was in Queenstown where Katie, Mike and I spent 5 days...no more adrenaline fuelled adventure sports to report...except that mike went off a did the Nevis Bungy, even with his bad knee...I understand a lot of begging had to be done before they strapped him in...but Mike's powers of persuasion won them over!

After Queenstown we were basically making our way back up to Auckland with a few stops at some new places and a few visits to places we had already been. Met some good people on the buses back up...and said goodbye to the Bournemouth lads and our other friends we had made who left Queenstown a few days before us. Also said goodbye to our legendary driver Dallas...:-(

Next stop was Christchurch...not famous for much...has a pretty small cathedral and we went to a museum. Stopped back in at Taupo and went whale watching with Kate in Kaikoura. I have been assured that this was a great trip...but I wouldn't know because I spent 2 full hours being sick off of the back of the boat...apparenlty we saw 5 whales...I saw the inside of a sick bag!

headed back to Wellington and Mike stayed behind to go and watch the cricket with some of the guys we met. All met up again in Taupo and then headed up to Auckland together. Managed to squeeze in one more night with the Bournemouth lads before they flew off to Sydney. Kate went off to do the Bay of Islands and skydive...very brave of her all on her own...and Mike and I were on our own again for the first time in a month...filled our time wondering round Auckland, going to the cinema...oh and playing on the dance machine in the arcade...good times! Also met up with a few of our good mates from Oz which was cool, and had a couple of messy nights on the roof of our hostel with a few bottles of cheap wine and some indescribably horrific chinese liquer!

So off to the airport and wave goodbye to Kate who heads home to the motherland! And me and Mike embark on our long ass journey to Bangkok! 2 Flights, 4 aeroplane meals and 3 in flight movies later and we set down in Bangkok. We now have a 7 hour wait for our next flight which is taking us down to Koh Samui so that we can meet up with my wonderful friends from home who have come all the way to Thialand to see us! So after some very fitful sleeping on airport chairs hugging my rucksack we jump on our 45 minute flight to Koh Samui. Que some very excitable and squeaky embraces with Alicia and Jess when we meet them at our hotel! had been looking forward to seeing them for a very long time! Poor Mike...now travelling with me and 3 other girls! Although funnily he didn't seem to mind too much!

Thailand is absolutely beautiful and very very hot! Spent a couple of days on Koh samui and then head over to Koh Panghan. Thailand is a very chilled kinda place. Dinner involves strolling down to the beach where the restaurants lay out all mats, cushions and tables so you can sit in the floor. They decorate the whole beach with fairy lights and lanterns and lay out the fresh fish on ice so you can pick what you want right there and then and choose how they cook it! Oh...and it's ridiculously cheap! You can have a massive plate of noodles for about 50p!

On Koh Panghan I experienced the horrific effects of the buckets! Buckets are exactly that...imagine cheap kids bucket and spade set...then imagine a hipflask sized bottle of whisky, and then redbull which comes in cough syrup style bottles....that happen to be illegal in England because of the amphetamines apparently...all mixed together in a bucket...for less than 4 pounds! You don't realise you are drunk until it is too late...the girls had warned me...but I learnt the hard way! had an awesome night on the beach...bucket in hand! Met some ozzie guys who we played drinking games with and then danced the night away whilst watching Mike endager himself again by jumping the firey skipping rope and launching himself through the ring of fire!

Nxt day was hangovers all round and a pact to never drink buckets again!

Jenna, Alicia and Jess were here for 7 days. On their last day we went Elephant trekking...this was scarier than I had predicted...once sitting up on that elephant I had a real feeling of helplessness and visions of stampeding elephants and me and mike hanging from it's ears! But thankfully all went to plan...the elephants are very well behaved...and I think this may have something to do with the little Thai men carrying spears! Also went and learned how to make traditional thai curry and coconut milk! Very touristy afternoon! Next morning was a sad farewell to the girls!

Think most of you probably know by now that I have changed my plans and am coming home early! hard to believe maybe but I miss home lots!! So me and Mike are now doing some Island hopping so that I get to see some different places before I come home! In Krabi at the moment which is on the mainland to the south-west. Off to Phi Phi next, then Phuket and then up to Bangkok.

Will keep you updated on our latest shennanigans!

Speak soon! xx