We have landed! After being delayed by a week due to the epicly annoying ash cloud. But like true British form, we winged and moaned for a week and battled on and a week later we where on a plane and on our way. 3 flights in 24 hours and we arrive in Phuket airport. The first thing that hits you is the heat. A few friends have warned me it was hot but I did not realise just how hot or humid they meant. I asked a mate if it was to hot for jeans at night and now I know it's to hot for clothes in general. So the Thai's better get use to seeing my pale soft skin while I'm around. We walked through the airport and before we even made it to the exit we where surrounded by taxi drivers and tour guides trying to get us in there "cheapest" taxi. It was pretty intense and reminds me of trying to shop in Egypt, insane!!! So we finally get in 1 taxi after being harrased and chased down by him for 5 mins. He wins in the relentless test for sure. Second thing that becomes very apparent around here is the road mentality....no surrender. They take no prisoners around here. But when we get our scooter I promise I will be safe mum (knew you would worry)

So we arrive at Tiger Muay Thai and get out of the air conditioned, hip hop playing taxi and back into the stonkingly strong heat of Phuket. A nice bottle of water as we signed in and then a nice glass of fruit juice as we get signed into our accomodation, thank you very much. We got settled into our new home and then went for a walk around the gym/camp. Regardless to the number of people that train here on a day to day basis, I was amazed at how clean it was and how it didn't smell of loads of bodies sweating in the intense heat. We where both feeling pretty span out at this point so we went and ate at one of the local bars on the road we are staying. Third thing I did notice was the fact we are not to close to the hussle and bussle of all the goings on in Phuket. This is a good thing really as it keeps us focused on our training etc.

So after getting to look around at some of the local happenings we decide to go for a dip in the pool across the road and cool off. We rented some cheap fighting DVDs and passed out within minutes of turning them on. We got up at 1pm after much needed sleep and decided to get some things done and get our bearings. Got a txi to the local shopping center which was huge. This is where I have experienced my first he/she moment! I needed a haircut and we found a nice shop to do so but the language barrier is noticable very quickly. I get shown to chair and lay down for a shampoo which ended up being a 5 minute head massage, very nice indeed I think. Shown back to my chair and another lady came over to cut my hair. she dried my hair off and then looked at me in the mirror and then the words "style" came out of her........well his maybe her's mouth in a very deep ummmm lady like voice. Hmmmmm I'm left thinking whilst this shehe cuts my hair. She/he guides me back to the chair for a quick hair was. But this head massage was not as nice or gentle, it was a bit more manly than I would have liked from a small Asian women. As I return to my seat I see James has bought himself another fruit shake, it keeps him alive and regular apparently. We finished there and we had a laugh about my head being touched by a he she but I'm man enough to take it on the chin (no pun intend you filthy people).

So after returning back home we popped down to buy some new kit before we start training tomorrow. We are both really looking forward to starting training. I know it's going to be hard and there will be alot to take in and the heat will not make it any easier at all. But bring on the challenge I say. We have found a great little bar called Tonys about 5 mins walk away from the camp that has internet acess so we will use that for uploading pictures soon whilst eating our £1 meal and our 40p fruit smoothies, not a bad find hey!

Sorry if this has been filled with jargon, bad grammer and spelling mistakes but I am using my iPod to do this, so please forgive me. I will get use to doing these after a while. Hope everyone is well back home. Peace out until next time. Stu and James.