Koh Tao

I left Joel in Bangkok last week and have spent the last week of my travels with Alaistair and Chris. We flew down to Koh Samui (it was so great to be back on a plane after three and a half months of long and painful bus journeys!) and spent a night in Fisherman's Village which was very pretty.

We've spent the past seven days in beautiful Koh Tao. It's rainy season here at the moment although we have been pretty lucky with the weather and had mostly sunny days. Before we arrived there was 72hours of constant rain on the island so the tide is really high on the beach, its literally all sea and no sand until after sunset, so we have to practically swim from our hotel to the bars and resturants. But, luckily we have a pool at our place so we've spent all our time lazing around the pool, making the most of my last few days of sunshine.

There has been a royal funeral in Thailand this week so a lot of the bars and resturants closed for five days so we had some pretty chilled nights when we first arrived. They all opened again on Tuesday so we were back on the buckets and down to the beach to watch the amazing fire dancers.

Yesterday, we decided to be a bit more active and went on a snorkelling trip and we spent a couple of hours at some beautiful islands, which are all connected by small beaches, so you can walk from one island to the other. It's quite bizzare but absolutley gorgeous. We walked up to the top of one of the peaks and the views up there were amazing!

Tomorrow we leave Koh Tao and spending my last night in Koh Samui, then I'll be back in Hong kong by Saturday night. I'll be really sad to leave the boys but can't wait to see everyone back in Hong Kong!!

xxx

Changland!

It was Sarah's final night in Thailand last night, so we went out for some farewell drinks and Sheesha. It was sad saying goodbye to her, i've had good fun with her over the past couple of weeks.

Today was mine and Joels last day together! After 8weeks of travelling together we are going our seperate ways. After the trauma we had yesterday, we thought we'd have a nice relaxing day. So, we found a quiet little hotel with a gorgeous pool on the beach and spent the afternoon chilling there, drinking Chang and attempting to play Frisbee.

Tommorrow we go back to Bangkok, which has now become my second home! Then I'm flying to Koh Samui with Alastair and Chris. Thats right, I'm flying there, no more 18hour bus journeys for me. Those boys are fancy travellers and make me spent more money than I have!!

xxx

Tree top adventures

Today we decided to be very adventurous and tried out the Tree Top Adventure Park, also known as the most terrifying experience of my life.

Joel and I, before we realised what a horrific experience it would be!

We spent three hours doing the 33 'challenges' that were 40metres above the ground, in the jungle. These consisted of Tarzan-style swings, rope ladders, zip lines, tight ropes, flying skateboards and other terrifying challenges. And unfortunately once we started there was no going back! I spent a lot of the time in a state of panic, sweating with pure fear. I did enjoy some of it, like the 30metre high, 150 meter long zip line. We went so fast on it, it was really good fun! It was actually physical difficult too, because we ahd to pull ourselves up ropes and balance along wires, we were relying on our own strength not to fall and die! It was a good work out!(and I definately deserve a beer now).

However, I lost my shoe within the first ten minutes so had to do the rest of the 'adventure' with only one shoe. It was pretty painful and really difficult. I couldn't get many photographs as I was too busy having a panic attack and terrified of letting go of the ropes and wires.

It was definately the scariest thing I've ever done and I can't say I'm pleased I did it, but I am so proud of myself for completing it (without crying or suffering from a serious injury).

xxx

Lonely Beach

We managed to find Sarah last night, in the Treehouse with a beer, as predicted. We spent a nice chilled night in there drinking Chang and listening to more Bob Marley.

This morning we went back to the Treehouse (I love that place!) to read and relax for a couple of hours, seeing as the weather wasn't too great. Joel is training to do his 14day trek in Nepal, so we decided to do a 10Kilometre walk to the next town. It was a tough uphill walk in the mid day sun, but the scenery was pretty and the beach was absolutely gorgeous, so we spent our afternoon there.Now, you all know that I like to do my bit for charity. I helped out at an orphanage in Cambodia and 'drank for the children' in Laos. Now I want to do my bit for the animal kingdom. Last night, whilst in the Treehouse, we found a very cute little puppy with no home. He was desperate for some attention and cuddles. All I'm asking for is a few pennies to provide the security that this little puppy needs. So, if you can, please send you money to www.keeplauradrinking.com so that I can afford to go to this bar everynight and provide the love and care this little one needs!!

xxx

Koh Chang

Joel and I left Bangkok and made our way to Koh Chang early this morning. After a 5hour bus journey and ferry ride, I was feeling a bit travel sick (no it wasn't a hangover!). On our final 30minute journey in a tuk tuk, I was very sick! Joel was far from helpful, he just turned away and looked out of the window as did everyone else in the tuk-tuk. Not one person even offered me water, a tissue or even asked if I was okay!! Selfish!! I really missed Nurse Nikki. Anyway, we finally made it to Lonely Beach on Koh Chang. It's been 18months since my first visit to Lonely Beach and I can't believe how much it has changed. There used to be only a couple of bars and resturants and a few places to stay, now there are lots of funky bars and beach huts everywhere. it's very strange being here again now that its all changed. It still has the same chilled out atmosphere and is full of hippies but it is a bit busier. It's good to be back though, but a little weird being here without everyone else.

Joel and I walked down to the Treehouse, a bar where we spent most of ourtime last time I was here and then had a walk along the lovely beach. It's a bit cloudy today but hopefully it'll brighten up so I can get some tanning time in tomorrow. Sarah is around here somewhere, so we'll be out tonight to find her (probably in the Treehouse with a bucket or two).

xxx

Bangkok...again

I had an awesome last couple of days in Vang Vieng. We went tubing again, which was even messier than the first time! The rain was terrible, but that didn't stop us! I am completely covered in bruises from jumping of high swings and slides, the entire backs of my legs are blue. But it was worth it.

I left Chris and Alastair yesterday and set off on my 22hour journey down to Bangkok by bus and overnight train. The bus journeys were horrible, long and very hot! I was looking forward to getting on the sleeper train to lie down, take a sleeping tablet and sleep for the whole 14hours. I was not happy to find that I had to share my bed with cockroaches! I had no sleep!

I was so glad to make it Bangkok, especially when I saw all the seven elevens and fast food places! The first thing I did was buy some Cadbury's chocolate, it's been 6weeks since I had any.

I made my way to Joel's hotel. Seeing as he was the first one here, he got to choose the hotel so we are staying in Hotel Expensiveo. But its nice and clean and we have a rooftop pool. We spent the day at the MBK shopping mall. We treated ourselves to a big fat Macdonalds (it's been 6weeks since we've seen one so we were very excited). I think we ordered everything on the menu between the two of us! Then we watched the new Bond film, which is wicked.

We're off to meet Sarah in Koh Chang tomorrow. It'll be nice to get back to Lonely beach, although it will be weird without the HK lot, little Marriott and Mcegan with me.

xxx

Tubing

We've had a few crazy nights in Vang Vieng (and spent alot of time watch re-runs of friends to get over them).

We went tubing on sunday (floating down the river on an inflatable tube). Every few metres there was another bar that we got dragged into. All of which have ridiculously high swings, zip lines and a horrific slide (possibly the most terrifying experience of my life!)But lots of fun!

Me and Michelle on the zip line.

Alastair on the scary swing.

It had rained all day so by the end of the day the bars had turned into giant mud baths. It is as dangerous as it sounds! Sarah was found clinging onto a bridge in the dark after going missing for a couple of hours, luckily she was rescued by some locals. We were all a bit bruised the day after but no major injuries. We have really missed Nikki being here, although god knows what injuries she would have suffered.

Of course we did our bit of charity work in the first bar. Drinking for the sake of the disadvataged kids. I cant think of a better way to raise money!

Joel and Sarah have left today to kayak all the way down to Vientiane (hope they make it!) Kristin has gone back to London. It was sad saying goodbye to her last night.

I'm staying here with Chris and Alastair to do some more tubing. Wish me luck!

xxx

Blue Lagoon

After a long and well deserved 12hour sleep, i met up with Alastair ad Chris for breakfast. It was lovely to see them both again! I spent the day with Joel and Kristin at the blue lagoon. It's a beautiful lagoon in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by mountains.

It's very pretty and the water was gorgeous. There were swings for us to play on and trees for us to jump off so we had lots of fun!

There were a few groups of people up there so it was a really good laugh.

We're meeting Chris and Alastair later in the 'bucket bar', so who knows what kind of state we'll be in for tubing tomorrow!

xx

Vang Veing

Joel, Kristine and I booked ourselves on a 7am bus to Vang Vieng for this morning, so we met up with Alex and Karl in Lao Lao bar for some farewell drinks. Joel and Kristine were very sensible and were back in bed by midnight to have a good rest before the 9hour journey. I decided to stay out and work my way through the Lao Lao whiskey cocktail list!

At 6.35am, I thought I should stop drinking and make my way home, seeing as I hadn't packed my bag and was leaving on a bus 25minutes later. When I got back to the hotel Joel was all ready to go, flapping about because I wasn't ready. As usual all my belongings were scattered around the room, Joel called it 'the room of devestation', (a pretty acurate description). I quickly shoved everything into my bag and got dressed. My backpack was ridiculously huge and heavy and I still had to carry plastic bags full of clothes as I had no room in my backpack due to all the shopping i'd done. But I still managed to get on the bus in time.

Nine hours later, we arrived in Vang Vieng, which is a small town surrounded by moutains and filled with little resturants and chilled out bars, all of which are constantly showing 'Friends'. Everyone comes here to go tubing and kayaking along the Mekong, which I can't wait to do! Alastair and Chris are meeting us here tomorrow, I'm looking forward to seeing them again and can't wait for us all to go tubing together.

Luang Prabang Waterfalls

Joel and I had another early start this morning to meet Kristine for breakfast in the Swedish bakery, (i am going to get so fat if i keep eating cakes for breakfast!) It was a gorgeous sunny day so we decided to go to the waterfalls. As usual in order to get there we had to do an Indiana Jones style jungle walk, over rickety bamboo bridges and rivers. The were lots of ugly insects, huge spiders and lizards on the walk, Joel was very scared but I think I'm getting used to the jungle now...finally! There were lots of smaller waterfalls on the way which were very pretty.

To get to the main waterfall, Tad Sae, we had to get a little wooden boat along the river. It was right in the middle of the jungle and was absolute paradise. It was a huge multitiered waterfall with lots of small turquiose pools to swim in. The trees were growing in the waterfalls, it was unbelievable (You can't really see how amazing it was from the photos). Of all the waterfalls that I have seen on this trip this was definately the most impressive (sorry to say it Nikki, but it really is).

Best of all, we had the whole place to ourselves so we had lots of time to swim about and play in the beautiful clear blue pools.

It was one of my most favourite places that Ive been to on my travels and itis an absolute must for people travelling to Laos!!

I'm off to Lao Lao bar now for some post-swimming beers. I was very adventurous last night and had a water buffalo burger! It was surprisingly very yummy, so maybe I'll have another one with my beer.

xx

All by myself

I left Nikki in a scummy hotel room early Sunday morning. It was sad saying goodbye, but I'm glad to hear she got back okay and is enjoying being back in HK. I was meant to meet Joel in Luang Prabang but there was a mix up with his bus journey so, I was heading north on my own. I was a little worried I wouldn't meet anyone because it can be difficult to meet people when your traveling alone but luckily, as soon as I had left Nikki I met Kristine who was also heading to Luang Prabang so I had someone to talk to on the long 11hour journey.

When we arrived we checked ourselves into a nice, clean hotel with a hot shower and big bed, it was such a luxury compared to the crappy places Nikki and I had been staying in. We went for dinner and had a look around the night market where I wanted to buy everything!!

Luckily Joel had managed to sort his bus out quickly so he arrived in Luang Prabang the next day. It was great to see him again and exchange stories, but we are missing Nikki's presence (we have no one to take the piss out of now). We spent the day walking around the town, shopping and relaxing in all the little cafes.

Luang Prabang is a gorgeous town filled with modern resturants, bars, temples and shops selling handmade jewelry and crafts. It's surrounded by the Mekong river and big green mountains, so it's absolutely beautiful! It's very peaceful and laid back here. There are lots of young children and teenagers attending Buddhist school and training to be Buddhist monks, so the place is filled with young people wearing orange robes doing their duties around town.

We met Kristine for dinner and treated ourselves in a nice French resturant with a bottle of wine (definately not on the backpackers budget!)I'm so classy now Nikki's left me! Despite the name 'Crazy Bob' the wine was delicious, especially after not having a glass for months! We went to Lao Lao bar which has an awesome beer garden, where we met Alex and Karl.

As usual, 11.30 came and the music stopped and it was last orders. There is a national curfew of midnight here! Quite a shock to someone who is use to seeing the sunrise most days. Apparently the place to go after midnight is the bowling alley, so we made our way there. The bowling alley was packed with travellers and was more like a dodgy night club than a bowling alley. After here we decided to head to the only club in the town, which was filled with young locals (we were the only westerners in the place) and they were playing terrible Lao dance and pop music, so we didn't stay for long.

I woke up early today to meet the boys at the Swedish bakery for a yummy (but very unhealthy) breakfast. Despite the hangovers, we hired bikes for the day to explore the town a bit more. We stopped off at Xieng Thong temples, a courtyard with five pretty temples on the Mekong. Even though I've been to see a thousand Buddhist temples, i'm still amazed at them all as there's always something original about each one. These temples were very funky, quite hippy-like actually. They were brightly coloured and full of beautiful, colourful mosaics, inside and out. Joel called them the 'party temples' which is a perfect way to describe them. I loved them!

We stopped off at a couple of little antique shops which sold gorgeous jewelry and lots of buddhas! One of the guys in the shop taught me alot about the buddhas, so now I want to buy them all (Nikki look out for a large package heading to the flat!) We stopped off at a funky bar for stuffed crust pizza (what a treat!) and beers (probably not the best idea whilst riding a bike).

This afternoon we went to a temple at the top of a huge hill, it was a difficult climb! But worth it for the fantastic views of the town and the Mekong at sunset.

I'm off to the night market again now...if I continue shopping like this I'll be back in Hong Kong with Nikki in no time!

xx