Hello and greetings from Mahasarakham, Thailand.

First of all we would both like to apologise for the lack of blogging since arrival. We have struggled to find decent internet connection. It's been exactly a week today since we arrived here in the Land of Smiles and we are starting to get used to the heat after getting an instant cold on arrival!

As you all know, we arrived here on the 4th Jan at 7:20pm Thailand time. The flight was very good and the stop in Muscat was pleasant. The landing into Muscat was simply beautiful (see photos).
On arrival we proceeded to Standy's apartment and spent the first night trying to overcome our sleep deprivation with some much needed sleep.

The 5th quickly was upon us and we travelled to The Golden Mountain temple early morning. We took a public bus have way and then a taxi the rest. We travelled with Sandy and Oil (Will's good friends) to University and then onto the temple.

The Temple is rather famous seeing that it is displayed on the 2 baht coin of Thailand currency. Afterwards we went to the famous Khao San Road (where parts of the beach was filmed) This was so busy with white people that at times it felt that we were not in Thailand at all!!! we both agreed that this isn't what we want to experience very often as we are here to get some REAL culture, not some pale people looking for booze and sun!! :-)

on the evening we went out to, yeah you guessed it, Khao San Road! Although we picked a Thai nightclub. It is called Brick Bar and plays a lot of SKA music. It was so crazy and the live band was brilliant.

In the morning of the 6th we were feeling pretty delicate to say the least. We chilled out and slept for most of the day. by the time Sandy arrived back from university (2pm) we were still half dead (not literally)
Once we finally surfaced we went to MBK. MBK is a big mall in Bangkok. It sells everything and anything.

On the evening of the 6th we were invited to karaoke with some Thai friends. We travelled to a place which resembled a resort at a beach, it was fantastic. We had a good little sing song and eat some great food. (see photos)

We knew that we were planning to take the long bus to Mahasarakham on the 7th so we decided to try to get an early night....yeahhh whatever!! ha ha! we slept at 4am.
Ok, so the early start maybe wasn't realistic, but we managed to be on the bus for 9.30. The VIP bus was great... Massage chairs, personal waiter, food & drink...PERFECT and just what we needed for the 7 hour journey ahead of us.

The journey was spent playing cards, learning thai and watching Thai movies!!

At about 5pm we finally arrived. Edward ( a filipino friend who works at the university) picked us up with some students using their car (students here are always ready to help their teachers)

It was nice to finally reach the apartment. We were able to place all our things and finally get unpacked. We took it easy on the first evening...just a nice meal and some sleep.

Morning of the 8th we called Dr. Intisan. He asked for us to meet him at 11am for our interview. Everything went perfectly well and it seems that as long as the visa gets sorted quickly, we shall we teaching as soon as 1st February.

On the evening of the 8th we once again went to karaoke. This time at the BEST BUDDY. It's a big karaoke place (very popular over here) we sung our lungs out and the went to the nightclub which is just a stones throw away from our room (could actually hit it from our balcony I think)

The club is fantastic. Lots of young people and we were soon talking with them and were being asked to teach them English. Some extra classes for us!!! :-)
After the club ended at 1am we were asked to go to an after party of which we obviously accepted the offer. We got home at 7am, slept until midday and then went swimming in our pool we have which is also a stones throw away.

9th was spent chilling out and preparing some lesson plans. We will both be working together on tutorials, about 14 hours a week. Not bad, not bad at all!!!

10th we had to meet with Dr. Intisan in the morning to sign some documents for the visa process. Afterwards we chilled and went swimming again (getting fit these days)

11th is where we find ourselves today. Received a phone call early morning from Dr. Intisan asking us to meet him at the office for some more documents to be signed. Our signiture is getting used a lot these days!!

Edward came with us and it was lucky he did because his class was waiting for him. We passed by and Edward say... helloooo what are you waiting for?..."an interview" they said. With whom Edward asked...."with YOU" they all said together.

Anyway once we sign our forms we split the class and we both got involved doing an interview test. Basically had to give a speaking exam to around 15 students each. It went very well and managed to get some more special classes. The special classes are mounting up!! seems we'll be rolling in it!! :-)

and here we are... just eaten after another swim. It's 33 degrees, we've just eaten and awaiting a friend from Wales (will's friend) who will arrive to Mahasarakham for the first time. I expect tonight we'll eat dinner together and show him around to some places.

That's all for now, hope you all feel updated...

Watch this space.

Time for a short nap...

Much love

Will Pilling

Pete Leach