Hiya everyone,

Finally caught up on some sleep and now have enough energy and concentration to write an email (until last nite we'd only been to bed once before sunrise!). We got here fine and are havin a ball!

Spent first 4 days in Bangkok, which was boss but stinks. We stayed with Kate (or teacher Cake as she's known here), which was great coz she took us to all proper Thai places that we wouldn't have found in a million years without her, coz its so massive. Went on a motorbike taxi, not out of choice like but nevertheless I did it, so am v proud, but my driver fella wanted a tip coz I was shoutin at him to slow down and clingin onto his top so much that it took him longer to get there and was wobblin all over the place! We also went on a Tuk Tuk which I enjoyed thanks to the 6.4% Chang (I try to forget it sponsors the blue s***e!)

We also went to Kate's school and the kindergarten kids sang heads, shoulders, knees and toes to us.... they're sooo cute although they have funny nicknames (given to them by their family) like Christmas, Coke and Beer, mind u they're better than some of their real names, which include pornpiss, tittyporn and minge! (seriously!! how disgustin!). Also had Thai massage which helps explain the pleasure/pain theory....they kneel all over u and pick parts of u up and drop them! was nice thou in a funny sort of way.

Then on Monday got overnight bus to Koh Pangan which kept breakin down but wasn't like the rice and noodle trucks that I'd imagined to be the normal mode of transport here so I was pleased. Now KohPangan is one of the best places I've ever ever been, so much fun, although a bit crazy especially the drivin laws or lack of them. No one needs a licence, you can be any age, you can drink and drive and theres even an article in a tourist brochure tellin u how to drive safely whilst talkin on ur mobile!

Everynight is crazy especially the full moon party, were everyone just spends ALL night dancin and drinkin on the beach, fallin over and gettin burnt in fire skippin ropes and the mini bonfires that people run through for fun! and fallin off stages over and over again(Clive!). The place is gorgeous but the sunrise is spolit a bit by the many dirty b*****ds pissin in the sea and the couples gettin up to no good anywhere and everywhere!!

Met loads of boss people most of whom are doin same trip and will all be in Sydney for Xmas/Nyear. The very first person I saw was a member of the Village, who was also at Kate and Emma's asbo party! September is apparently the quietest full moon party but there was still 8000 people, NYE has 30,000! We danced all night and drank loads of buckets, although we did need a 30min power nap about 5am so went and napped with the other hundreds of power nappin people on the beach... (it was like sleep corner at a nursery), but it sorted us out and stayed out till bout 9am, then went back for a quick shower and straight back to the beach....the partyin went on till noon!!!

The only dodgy person we've met was this man/creature who was like jungle book Mowgli. We were there havin a guitar singsong about 6am (as u do) and this fella with long scraggy hair took and hogged the guitar then took his teeth out, put a curse on Claire and then took all his clothes off and ran into the sea with a load of stray rabies dogs!! Think he needs to stay away from the Magic Mushroom palace (they actually have one (a bar on the beach that serves mushroom shakes) even thou drugs are illeagal!!!)

Anyway in Koh Tao now (a proper diving island), Claire is doin a 4 day scuba divin course and I'm just relaxin and catchin up on some much needed sleep and we are actually not gonna drink for 3 whole days!!! until the last night wen theres a big party and we get to watch some thai boxin, so I'm sure I'll be feelin and lookin like s***e again soon enough! Anyway gonna go now, but will be in touch again soon. Hope everyone's ok, keep in touch, love Steph xxxxx