In July my mum came over to visit. I had a great time. I saw some new sights in Bangkok and also went up to Ayutthaya which is an old capital city. Jenny threw a bbq in honour of mum when we got to Surat and I was very proud of everyone for not embarrassing me or swearing too much.

After Surat we were supposed to be getting the voat to Koh Tao but when we got off a Koh Phangan the weather was so miserable we decided to stay in Phagngan rather than risk the dodgy boat trip up to koh tao. We spent a couple of nights in a resort called Haad Son just next to Haad Yai. It was very quiet and the weather was still bad but mum got herself onto the floor cushions and started to relax - I think it was here that started her addiction to iced ovaltine!

We moved onto koh tao a couple of days later. It was the first place in Thailand I'd really spent time in and always recommended it to people but wondered if it was only because it was the first holiday - turns out after all the places in Thailand I've now seen, I still love this place and think its my favourite. Not just because of any particular thing but it's got lovely beaches, great food, good bars and entertainment but peaceful places too.

Our last stop was Koh Samui. Now I've been a few times now and usually stay in Chaweng, the busiest part of samui. This could be any strip of bars & restaurants and shops in any country.So this time we stayed in the Ibis in Bophut. Bophut was a lovely fishermans village near a pier with some lovely restaurants and shops. We had a fish pedicure where you put your feet in a pool of water and they eat at the dead skin for half an hour. Very weird sensation. My only complaint was that they didn't do a very good job with the nail varnish!......its a joke.