Dearest All,

Hope you're all well and looking after yourselves. Here's our latest update leaving off from Vietnam:

We left Hanoi on a flight back to Bangkok for one night as we planned to get an early train next day to a town west of Bangkok called Kanchanaburi.

This place was quite a change from the hectic cities of the previous nights so arriving here was like walking through a ghost-town in comparison. Very chilled out and relaxed. On our first full day we took the 5km walk towards the Bridge over the River Kwai, stopping at the prestine war cemetery holding thousands of graves, mostly of POWs from WWII. Here there was a great museum explaining all about the thousands who died making the Death Railway line from Thailand to Burma, including the massive famous steel Bridge.

The next day had a great full day on a tour around some of the best places we've been to so far. Erawan waterfalls - 7 tiered waterfalls involving jungle treks to each level where you can swim in each pool (though there were thousands of fish that nipped at you if you stopped moving for long enough). Beautiful and so picturesque, about 1500m to top!
After lunch we were taken to do some Elephant trekking. This seemed pretty dangerous and scary sat in the chairs secured to the elephant, until the keepers made us slide to the front and ride on the neck! Then we went on a Bamboo raft down river. Next we were taken on the train that still travels over the Death Railway and then we went back to the Bridge over the River Kwai for some more tourist photo opportunities!

Next we flew from Bangkok for a couple of nights at the eastern island of Koh Samui. Here was very touristy - the first time white people outnumbered the locals by far! Fortunately we had a private beach which was nice and managed to keep away from most of the touristy areas. We also got to see our Swiss friends Andrea and Barbara who we met in Vietnam. They took us to a market cafe for dinner and then we had some drinks where there were some questionable dirty old men and young Thai ladies. One bar we had a power cut and the staff began to close the shutters. Jokingly, we asked if there would be a lock-in but we were told they did it as previously Thai gangsters had held up the place with guns during other powercuts : s Fortunately we made it back safe and left this island for Koh Phangnan for a few more nights.

Here we stayed on a very remote beach in the North which was great once we got there though had to traverse horrible dirt tracks and mountain roads to arrive. Well worth it though - barely any people and beautiful white sand and crystal water. The first night we joined the rest of the guests on the boat taxi (far easier than car though very very wet!) to get to the Full Moon Party. Just a massive beach party, thousands of people, loads of different clubs/djs, luminous body paint and buckets of vodka/gin/whiskey for dirt cheap! Great night, boat taxi back at 4am. After only 3hrs sleep though steve was rudely awoken by a cockcroach crawling across his back - lovely morning wakeup massage. We then decided to be more vigilant with the mosquito net! Here we were staying in a beach hut which was didnt have flushing toilet, warm showers or aircon so recovering wasnt the greatest experience.

Our last destination was Koh Phi Phi, all the way on the west coast. So after a massive day of traveling, with 2 taxis 2 ferries 2buses and taxi boat, surprisingly everything ran on time and we made the last (3pm) ferry from the mainland and arrived on the island safe and well. We stayed in another hut (still no hot water) but much nicer here, though no electric from 5am -6pm everyday. Was a beautiful place, more remote than the other beaches and the most crystal clear water you could ever imagine. Would have loved to stayed longer as the rain prevented us from doing too much but had a great stay and steve still managed to get sunburnt in the morning.

That's it for Thailand! We will be able to update you in a few more days as we leave for Australia very soon.

Thanks for reading.
Love to everyone, we miss you all.

Katie and Steve xxxxxxxx