We arrived in Phuket where Sam and I had a couple of days before the others arrived. I didn't really like Phuket.... the town is dirty and there isn't much to do there. We staying in Karon which has an amazing beach but the town is a bit seedy with a lot of old men with young Thai girls. We were also getting our first look at the lady boys which I think was freaking Sam out a bit. After a couple of days relaxing we met up with 6 others whom we would be travelling with for the next couple of weeks.

First stop - Koh Phi Phi which is beautiful. We stayed at an amazing hotel (Phi Phi Island Cabana), with the pool by the beach looking out on to the cliff faces and islands of Thailand. It was stunning. Unfortunately we were getting the tailend of the cyclone that hit Myanmar so the weather was rubbish but still beautiful. It was Anna's birthday so our first night there was messy.... drunk before we left the rooms, it was an interesting birthday meal with a late night spent at Tiger Bar which served very cheap buckets of alcohol.

We had one more night there (for recovery) and were very sad to leave the hotel and move on. Next stop was Railay Beach where we had more beach time, another beautiful place. It was nice to be somewhere so different to Australia, but which was also a break from the craziness of Bangkok. Our last island was Koh Phangan which is where the famous full moon parties take place. We missed this but we decided to stay on one of the quieter beaches which again was stunning and we had a lovely resort where we were lodged in cabins on the beach. Another drunken night which had the girls rearranging the boys room which they were not too happy about but it kept us amused. Our time here was relaxing and beautiful, and despite not doing much on the islands we visited had a great time and was very happy that I came to Thailand.

After our week of beaches and sun it was time to head back to Bangkok. We noticed our time was flying away from us so in our last few days we decided we needed to get lots done. The boys got tailoured suits, the girls went shopping and got massages. We also found time for a hair-raising tuk tuk race and a ping pong show. Which was dodgy! No ping pongs involved and I won't go in to details of what they were pulling out of where but when it turned in to a live sex show we decided it was probably time to leave.

A day trip to Kanchanaburi was also included and I think this is probably one of the highlights of my year away. Here we could ride an elephant! Was great fun, took a little time to feel secure but she took us all through the forest and in to the River Kwai. It was awesome. Although the cruelty to the elephants was evident and you couldn't help feeling sorry for them - after they had performed their tricks - when they were made to go back in their pen to be chained up again. That afternoon we went to the Tiger Temple where you can sit with the tigers and have your photos taken. This was fun but had a bit of a weird feel to it. They claimed the tigers weren't drugged but had been raised since birth by the people in the temple, they likened them to a house hold cat. However when you sit next to a tiger or a household cat and start having hundreds of people, one at a time stroking it and it doesn't move but stays sleeping while breathing rapidly I would say they were probably so high they had no idea what was going on. But we got some good photos and also got to see the tiger cubs which were very cute.

For our last night as a group of 8 we spent it in a wonderful hotel called the Nai Lert, its just amazing. Was sad and a little strange to say goodbye to four of our number who were going back home, but the four that were left (me, Sam, Anna and Sarah) were heading to the North of Thailand - to Chiang Mai.

Again somewhere really different to the rest of Thailand. Stayed at MD House with a Mr Sonny who couldn't do enough for us. Also took part in a Thai cooking course - so when I get home, Thai food for all! - this was good fun. And we got to eat all the food we cooked so yay! We also went to a traditional dinner and dance here. The dinner was great but the dance was so awful we tried to leave early. For some reason they didn't seem to want us to go and we practically got chased back in which then made us devise an elaborate plan to get away. Once again we were called back and as we were making up excuses why we had to leave (why we felt we had to lie and couldn't just tell them we wanted to go I'm not sure) the lady made it clear she was just making sure we got our free transfer back. So all was well in the end and we left feeling a little bad. But not much.

After four days here we left the two girls and headed back to Bangkok where we had another brilliant hotel booked (they are a lot cheaper in Thailand, thats why we were staying in so many...). Last minute shopping and pool time took up our last two days. We had also managed to evade all the gem factories people try and take you to, however in our last taxi, with a man who I don't think was quite all there, we were nearly ferried off to one. Thankfully we persuaded him not too. Saying goodbye to Sam was sad, he has now gone home (which I was quite jealous about) and its very odd being by myself again.

Back in Sydney for what feels like the 100th time and it is freezing. No sleep on the plane and not being allowed to check in does not bode well for the rest of the day. I fly to Africa on Monday which I can't wait for! It also means the beginning of the journey home......