25th July, Hello! Massage?

Yeah. Massage was great, felt all the bones in my neck, shoulers and back crunch.

Spoke to the guy who took us to chang rai up north and he told us that at the next tour he did his windscreen got shattered from some crazy driver in front which blew rocks into his windscreen shattering it, which blinded him momentarily almost causing the van to crash… Then the transmission goes on the clutch…

Bearing in mind he did drive like a nutter and i’m not surprised his transmission has lasted this long – 4years. I’d like to say it could have been us. It would make for an interesting story anyhow….

24th July, Changrai, Blending in

Really relaxing day. Sitting in a taxi van just seeing sights, a boat trip along the mekhong to laos, to the northof thailand. Fed some monkeys and also got attacked by one (see pic, half asecond later he jumped on me and jumped around me – sharp claws too). (I’ve never seen girls run so quick-Nici was taking the phot at the time) different tribes. Bit of culture really. which was nice.

Oh and some chinese tourists thought I worked at one of the stalls in laos and asked how much something was. If only I was more on the ball – I could have a fortune (All of a couple of quid).

So today did absoloutely nothing. Spent the day time with the dangerous germans (they went to the station a day earlier) basically drinking beer. Then had a sleep and now going to see who I can meet as George is still in Nan and i’m finally on my lonesome…

22nd July, Chang mai, Chuck & Mac Dangerous

Just got back from a 3day trek, Staying with hillside folk in the mountains. Their was about 9 of us. Elephant treking (beer and big banana rollie -its what these locals smoke, lasted the best part of the day) – great, and bamboo rafting. The great thing about the whole thing though was the group I was in. We just got on so well. There were these german guys who loved the Jay pose so much they do now as instinctive as I do (see photos). Amazing experience, camp fires drinking games in the middle of nowhere with waterfalls to my right and rice paddies to my left…

‘Dangerous’ became the word of choice. Basically it all stemmed from a chicken noodle soup we had and had the choice of adding chilli powder. I was the first and said that ‘ I love the danger’. It all got out of hand and now  everything from then on needed to be ‘dangerous’. This is where the ‘chuck’ danger comes in( as in a Chuck Norris). I was called ‘Mac’ Danger. (From macgyver, you had to be there really – though mac isn’t as dangerous as chuck.) 

Though I think the most dangerous thing was the bamboo rafting – I almost fell out. It was hilarious. Everybody was just trying to knock the other people of the rafts….

So we are all about to go out tonight as are parting ways and our giude was hilarious – crap jokes but it was the way he laughed. Got me going everytime. Then everyone else. There was almost too much laughter.

Almost (so close!) Ate a grasshopper but chickened out. I looked into its eyes for too long! But apparently they taste better in bangkok – more tase to them according to my parisien friend.
Going to see some tribes people called the ‘karen’ and ventrure to the most northern part of thailand bordoeing laos and burma tommorow morning at 7am.

I felt like a pro at the night market, wondered for a bit with the two girls from the group, laura and nicki. I managed to bring the opening prices down to half even more, taught them all the classic moves – Name your price and stick to it. Then walk away. They then back down as you walk to the next stall….

Again felt really sad tonight saying goodbye, even though we only met the group three days ago we got on soooo well. Shame I can’t met em for the next full moon party…

18th July, Tuk Tuk Sir?

Jeez, ‘you want a tuk tuk? where you from? I give you special price?!’. My patience is now down to zero. Got to chang mai fine. Saw the reclinings buddha, and the grand palace, tick! Got to chang mai and imagine a crowd of people saying where you going you want tuk-tuk? then they just rip you off. GOt on one today he was completely stoned. Didn’t where he was going or where I was staying. Stopped other tuk tuk drivers just to ask. Anywho after trying to ask for too much again got back to the apartment fine. Met the crew for the trek crazy bunch. They all love the ‘j’ pose – they all seemed a bit too enusiastic but in a good way. So i’m slightly drunk just finished packing for the trek its about 130am and im still a bit drunk. But should be fine leave at 9am tommorow.

Funny little tale with george, wanted to go the ATM but the tuk tuk guy really wanted a drink and stopped at some whisky places and got like a little whisky tasting sesh at random stops. Then it turned out he was our driver into town…

Said my goodbyes to gabriel sad to see him go. He did liven things up with his zest for the night life – well the girl thing, but i’m going to try and visit him in miami on my way back.

Missed out on the disco carraige on the train – loud music a bar and cheesy eurodance. I ended up playing chess with some dutch guy. Gotta check that one out though on the way back to bangkok.

Just gotta say, amazing apartment, still no signs of slumming it, great view an amazing mountain….

July 14th, Special promotion

Got back to Bangkok. Spent the way back with this crazy new yorkan girl who drank a few big beers before the bus and couldn’t say a sentence without swearing and saying ’sweet’ alot. She was all a bit much for sober me. Bit annoying but she soon passed out…

Its such a relief to have air con, tv and a balcony again. After the rather basic bungalows of ko phan-gnan. Really fancy a few beers, this place just gets me agitated i just feel like everybody is trying to fleece us of money. Like this morning I got here at 6 and this taxi driver was asking about 1000 baht to my hotel which was only down the road and drives all around the city. He then tries to make conversation about how everything being cheap here. Jeez I end up paying 80 which is still way too high for a trip down the road.

And then today we wanted to go and see a few temples and play the old ‘all the temples are closed – let me take you guys around’. Which entailed jewellery stores and suit tailors all with special promotions – one day only’. JUst don’t get me started…

I am looking forward to a few beers and looking forward to  getting outta here again.

15th July, Time to get away

So that same night went down town for the warm up party and and ended up doing some ‘magic’ shakes.  Strange setting, up on the far left of the beach up a hillside over looking the main beach party area. After 2 shakes and a ‘bucket’ (samsong whisky@80% proof+redbull(with a lacing of amphetamines apparently- they some in like medicine bottle like calpol) and coke) The lights across from the party started to look like disney land. Then it seemed like someone had turned the lights up and everything had a light glow. We all just sat on the beach had a bit of a dance and no-one could finish a sentence or have a proper conversation. George went off (I think it affected hinm the most) looking for the toilet. Me and gabriel said yeah its just over there and he got and headed for the mountian on the left. God knows where he thought we were – I think he thought we were still in the bar. Anyway I just laughed at everything for a good 3 hours. When that finally wore off we just danced untill the next morning. Then I just drank water. Then  I was completely back to normal. Everyone else on the beach on the other hand where completely wasted on there -drugs of choice. It was a complete I opener and rather messy. Yep it was finally time to get outta here….

But unfortunately I have just one more day so I’m just chilling on the beach (while it doesn’t rain) but I’m soo looking forward to getting out to chang mai for bit of tribe and elephant treking. To be honest I am quite looking forward to getting out of here altogether. There’s something not quite right about this place for me it seems all a bit too fake and pretentious.

A little later….

Well the guys met up with the elusive cop girl they met on their jungle adventure last night. And today she just won’t go away. She doesn’t speak hardly any english and now we just think she’s crazy. She says she’s undercover or something. George got stuck with her and is still stuck. Gab’s has gone to bangkok meeting him in a few days, and George was supposed to come to my resort but the girl started crying and not making much sense and we didn’t know what to do. so I took his stuff and he’s staying with her. I just hope He gets back here for the morning as I’m all ready to go.

12th July, Jungle trekking

it of a nothing day for me. Just checked emails etc and sat on the beach. I was this close to going with the other guys on a magical mystery bike ride. But it started raining and i wanted to chill.

They went off and I agreed to meet them later at my second apartment ( I have 2, One away from the party and one close by). So I wait for like 3.5 hours for them after the agreed time. They get back and they decided to ‘off road’ through the jungle to get through to the other side. It was pretty late and the heavens were giving it some.

They get lost in the middle of the jungle and decide not to turn back and keep going through. The bikes paractically get trashed, the battery goes so they have no lights going up and down muddy hills with thoughts of sleeping in the jungle looming. Thabkfully they meet a small family having a smoke in a small clearing and end up paying 600 baht for them to get them to the main road.

They even lost a flip flop. I’m just glad I didn’t go. I was bad enough going up n down hills on a bike….

11th July, I must be getting too old

This place is just a hedonistic paradise. I’ve been here 2 nights and havn’t got drunk – something must be wrong. I swear I’ve drunk more when I was working back in the Uk but here I just can’t get in the mood. Very odd.Found this mini rave going on the beach next door to our bungalows on the way back which was just sureal. Lots of crazy hippies jumping around to dance/trance on the sea shore. Still got the bikes, got a nice bike scar on my calf from almost fallig of when going up a huge hill. I cranked the bike into first did a pseudo wheelie and fell to the side – awesome! Still undettered I’ve just hired the bike again. George went awol for a day. He ended up looking after some drunken american girl for like 5hours till sunrise then she just got up and walked away. No thanks at all. So the big party tommorow not really looking foward to it but when in rome….

7th July, Hurrah proof!

Phi phi was so so, didn’t really do much went snorkelling and saw some jelly fish. The beach was okay but I guess it was just because it was rainy. Anywho, didn’t have anywthing really planned for today but we bumped into some bar waitresses we chatted to the previous night as we were wondering down the strip and ended up going to the beach for the day – I saw em giving me the eye…

Was supposed to meet them at their bar but Gabriel is ill and I just want a night in. Guess i’m getting old (er). Off to Ko-phangnan party central for the full moon party. Brits abroad spring to mind.

7th July, Hurrah proof!

Phi phi was so so, didn’t really do much went snorkelling and saw some jelly fish. The beach was okay but I guess it was just because it was rainy. Anywho, didn’t have anywthing really planned for today but we bumped into some bar waitresses we chatted to the previous night as we were wondering down the strip and ended up going to the beach for the day – I saw em giving me the eye…

Was supposed to meet them at their bar but Gabriel is ill and I just want a night in. Guess i’m getting old (er). Off to Ko-phangnan party central for the full moon party. Brits abroad spring to mind