Alila Cha-am Hua Hin

... feed a small nation in Africa. Can't wait to get back home to my daily jogging, this beach has been very inspiring!<br><br>We are situated at the end of the beach in a quiet bay. The sand is golden and not white since we're not further south. It is very fine though and the sky was cloudless yesterday, with a very light breeze kicking up occasionally. The water is really warm and the waves are very small, providing ideal conditions ...

Entering Thailand from one of the poorest coutries in the world, Nepal, made me feel like I had arrived in a Western country: The Bangkok airport is huge and clean, the minivans are finest that I've seen since Japan, and while enjoying the air-conditioned minivan ride to a Bangkok bus station, I saw all the famous international fast food and cloth chains logos among the other tall buildings. I tried to think about it, and figured out that the previous place I saw that ...

... Everything is beautiful.<br><br>Today's agenda: <br>1. Find guesthouse by the ocean (or find Dawn) <br>2. Call my mommy <br>3. Get a massage<br><br>We're planning on staying here for a few days. Maybe take a horseback ride on the beach, climb a mountain, or go to a nearby national park. We'll see how Hua Hin unfolds for us.

... for the past 5 years after my Europe trip<br>in 2004,. So now that I am not hitting the road solo I find it to be<br>quite different. I have found the most efficient way of doing<br>everything while I am traveling, I rarely come across a situation that<br>is unmanageable, however when you are traveling for two, there are many<br>more unplanned detours. I must say I am learning a lot and would not<br>change it.

... my impressions of China so far and the proclivity in that nation's inhabitants for expelling phlegm, loogies, you name it onto the city sidewalks. To be fair, I think they really have no choice in the matter. When the pollution and 50/50 fumes are so intoxicating on a constant basis you simply have to get it out of your lungs immediately or risk early onset emphysema. Yesterday we also experienced a wonderful reminder of why I love this nation so much. For those ...

Leaving Bangkok, hungover, at 1pm, I followed the main highway to Phetchaburi and arrived an hour after dark. This is not a strategy I'd recommend. Phetchaburi was a quiet town, with an inordinate quantity of wats and some holy caves. I spent the following morning poking around, and then rode on to Hua Hin, a town popularly described as a 'fishing village'. It is, in fact, a highly developed and busy weekend destination ...

... beer. We spent a few days lounging on the beach where we were confronted with a good reason to give this town a miss - the rather old age of the average tourist. Now, I'm not ageist but when on the beach, everyone likes to check out the talent. Unfortunately, the 'talent' in this case was limited to wrinkly, leathery skin, big hanging guts, and drooping man-tits. Nice.

... jandals and was very nervous - but survived of course to tell the tale. They are ruined a bit (excuse the pun) as there are people outside the gates trying to sell you stuff you don't need. Of course I ended up buying a few of those things. You get so sick of Hey Lady...you want water, bracelet, book, scarf etc etc! The next morning we got up at 5.30am as we were disappointed that Angkor Wat had so many tourists the day before. So we got there at 6am and it was perfect ...

The Thai constitution contains what the framers call "checks and balances" that are supposed to limit the power of government and prevent the abuse of power by enforcing accountability and transparency. These functions are to be carried out by non-partisan non-political institutions that are referred to as "independent bodies". The bodies include three different supreme courts, the election commission, the national counter corruption commission ...

... well for. £2.50 per dress. The dark work suits forgotten now, I'm going native again in loud coloured fabrics covered in hibiscus prints. Flower power never left s.e Asia. Real Thai food again fantastic, although when there is one chilli on the menu indicating how hot the dish is, this does not mean the same as in London. It really means that the roof of your mouth will be burnt off. What can three chillies be like? We met up with several of Kerry's ...