Nora Lakeview Hotel Surat Thani

... within SE Asia.

After an ok nights sleep (only problem was that the lights were kept on in the carraige all night and being on the top bunk I didn't get much darkness and my eye mask stopped blood getting to my head!!) - we arrived at Bangkok Hualamphong station at 10am and booked our onward ticket to Ayutthya, with just enough time for a cup of coffee and a danish.

... Half way in we stopped at a waterfall which was lovely but the dread in knowing that the only way out was to go back through the jungle to get home was horrible! I was just so eager to get back and out of the jungle away from the leeches that it motivated me to just get on with it... we stopped to swim in a river etc which was nice... although i think thats where i picked up my leech!! So after 8hours of freaking out in the jungle we arrived back at the ...

... mistake. They didn't know how to cook them (even though they were on the menu) and basically I didn't each much more than fruit. Nick went kayaking for a bit while I unsuccessfully tried to supplement my nights sleep. As we were going on another trek that day I ...

... a T-shirt I came across one which said "Full Moon Party - Everyone Request Buckets!" Buckets?? Yes, buckets. As in buckets of alcohol. This is a literal, not metaphorical phrase. Ostensibly it keeps the beach clean of glass. In reality it gives an excuse to drink stupid amounts of alcohol. We took a taxi over the island to the party. About 1km from the entrance we were stopped by the Thai police searching every vehicle for drugs. The search was cursory ...

... realized the mistake and made some progress. Finally we were off by 25 m from the coast and the old German came to our rescue and brought us close to the shore.On alighting from the kayak we saw hundreds of crabs, starfish, shell fish , snails and other creatures to greet us! There is a huge settlement of these creatures swarming all over the place. We were in the kayak again and after a while were grounded in mud! It was an effort to pull out the kayak and get ...

... cahoots with the taxi drivers (many of whom were waiting for us). Since none of us knew where we were, it was difficult to negotiate fares to our individual hotels. The drivers kept telling everyone it was 35km to city center, but I was pretty sure this was not true. Because it was so early, and I was pretty sure the reception at my hostel wouldn't be open yet, I looked around and saw that the hotel across the street had internet access in ...

... development or rice farming, seeing thousands of square kilometers being used for low intensity agriculture was shocking to me. After three hours, we arrived at the company's bus depot near Surrant Thani which was way out of town. Most of the passengers transfered to other buses to go to other locations. I met some Canadians who were also going by train so company called in a truck and we all piled in the back with a family (from Poland?) with our bags ...

... one out for you! I found that chanting had a positive physical effect that has an advantage for meditators. It helps to expand or at least warm up your lungs so that you'd be able to do some deep breathing practices, if you wished. Chanting was followed by a short practice of loving-kindness meditation led by this other nice Thai nun. Usually she would verbally lead the group in sending out postive energy and intentions to your friends, family, people you've wronged or have ...

... second class train. Which was suppose to have air-conditioning and a meal but only had windows that did not open, ceiling fans, and a meal of white rice and either green curry pork or bad fish. Needless to say, I slept a few hours and ate some white rice. Tonight I am staying in The Queen Hotel. This lavish resort contains a dust-covered ceiling fan, so far at least 3 creepy crawly friends (a ...

... while - crazy farangs! Getting back up to the 5th floor was another trial - the convention group was still at it. We fought for a free lift going up and I stepped in thinking Jem was right behind me. She wasn't and as the doors shut between us, I heard her voice through the metal, "Oh dear..." giggle. It took her a while to join me, so I stood giggling to myself ...