Well a 5am wake up on the first official day of my holiday was not what I was expecting, but I am having a holiday in Thailand so can't complain!
This year's adventure is a 17day tour to the north and south of Thailand; the great thing is I'm not going it alone this year! Joining me is Ian from last year's tour and Bond our Guide.

This trip to the airport was pretty non eventful, although Ian missed the turning and nearly overshot the exit to heathrow! On arrival we tried to blag an upgrade on the new airbus 380 but alas, no joy! We did however luck out with exit seats so lots of leg room.

The first journey was an 11 hour flight to Kuala Lumpur followed by a short stop over (which included to worst game of snap ever; not a single match in a whole pack of cards!) We finally arrived in Bangkok at 10:30am local time (4:30am UK) after a long wait at immigration we had collected our bags and were headed for the start hotel on bangkok.

Arriving at reception brought back some fantastic memories of last year's trip and both myself and Ian hoped we'd end up with just as great a group.

After check in I took some much needed sleep! Anyone who knows me knows I love my sleep, so to have had only 6hours in the past 48hours was not good!

At 6 we headed down for our first group meeting and to be reunited with Bond! It was brilliant to see him again and even more so knowing we are the first passengers he's had who have returned on another of his trips.

First impressions, we have a lovely group from all parts of Europe.

After the introduction meeting we head out for dinner (same restaurant as last year and just as good), I have thai red curry which is delicious. During Di. ET conversation is transpires that 7of us are all teachers (a mixture of primary and secondary) Schools's out for summer!!

Once we have finished dinner we head to Koah Sarn Road in tuc tucs! It's quite funny to see 5grown adults squashed into the back, Ian took a battering. As we whizz and wind through the traffic familiar landmarks and streets come into view. Bond then takes us to a cocktail bar where we sit out in the street watching the flood of tourists go by, whilst drinking and listening to the live music playing. Chatting with the group I can tell we are all going to get along, Ian already is upholding his reputation from last time by ordering a bucket of mojito!

One of the group, steve from wakefield, has a moment of madness (in my opinion) and buys a fried scorpion to eat! We all take great joy and disgust in watching him eat it whilst taking lots of pictures!

Afters couple I was relieved when Bond said we could head back, jet lag had def kicked in and I was ready for bed!

Next day we have a tour of Bangkok planned before heading to Sukhothai.