Caroline goes around the world

Helloooo!

I should technically be writing up the days from the end of Thailand to Perth but im infact 8 weeks ahead of that and have just arrived in Melbourne on an overnight bus from Sydney.

So at the end of Thailand, (one of my favourite countries now) I got my exam results and lets say they werent fabulous, so I will move on swiftly!

PERTH
So we got to Perth airport on 12th March from an awful overnight flight, where we met up with my friend Beth who I know from canoeing, she was then to be travelling with Amy and I for the rest of the trip!
When we drove out of the airport Amy and I couldnt believe that in Australia they get parrots instead of millions of pigeons! How is that fair? We were to stay in Perth for a week and our first 3 nights were in a hostel on a beach called Cottesloe, its was really nice there, on our first day it had been 41degrees that day, its crazy. Its a different type of heat in Australia than it was in Thailand. All we literally did in Cottesloe was lie on the beach and get taken out by waves! It was good fun though, I also 'tried' to kick start my fitness regime and went for a few runs.
For the next 2 nights we went and stayed in the city, Perth is really quite spread out, but I like the city so far! In the city we met up with Beths friends who were really nice and showed us around a little bit, which was gooood! Then it was back to Cottesloe. If you go out here places close at around 12!! So people go out stupidly early and we are really not used to it! So after a week of bumming around in Perth we got on our way to Cairns. Our flight was at 10pm and 4 hours, Cairns are 2 hours ahead so we got there at 4am!! Eurgh.

CAIRNS
We got to our hostel, Gilligans at 4.30am and slept on a sofa till 1pm. Then we were able to check in, staying in a room with 4 brazillian guys. We then went off to go and try and find a package deal on a bus pass down to Melbourne, Fraser island, Whitsundays and a Barrier reef trip.
Okay so my time on the computer is about to run out, this was a pretty poor effort, but I will update it again some more when im next on here.

Hope everyone is well. Lots of Love xxxxxxxx

So I didn't quite keep to my promise of keeping this site updated really did I?! I got really far behind on my written diary too which is how I write this blog.. its all fine iv caught up now! So I will kick off where I left off on the 27th of February when I was on Koh Phangan.

Saturday 27th February
Woke up and had our usual Toast and Jam, im not a massive jam fan but the jam here is just beautiful!! Got to the pool abit earlier today it was soo busy yesterday so we didnt get a sun lounger.. all the israelis take them.. this place is full of them! And they are just so so loud! Iv decided I probably don't want to visit Israel from listening to them go on and on and ON! We got talking to the couple next to us, Lindsay and Lee from Ayr, Scotland. So they told us all about their travels which was interesting a useful to get tips on what to do and where to go etc. They lived in Sydney for 7 months and saved up then went to NZ saw Oz then came to Thailand, they are so lovely!
So we just lounged around the pool with them, I finished my book. Time travellers wife by Audrey Niffenger, it was really good! Later we walked into town to trade our book in and get another book at a discounted price at a shop that Lindsay recommened, I was sad to part with my book, but lets be honest I can't start hauding all the books I read around with me! So that night we just watched the sunset and watched films in the resturant. We went and had a look at the DVD rack of ones to rent and met to Aussie girls there, Estelle and Phoebe who invited us to go and watch films in their room with them. So we had tea with them and discovered both of them had been to the UK before, Stelle told us how she hated Sheffield we laughed alot (because thats where Amy is going to uni ha) and she also told us how she chased squirrals and how much fun it was, we laughed even more at that! She was shocked when I told her my dad shoots squirrals haha. They seemed quite appalled when I asked if people in Oz wore the cork hats! Then we went up to their air con room which was bliss! And watched Pearl Harbour which Amy and I haven't seem before, it was so good! I loved it! They have bought so many pirate DVDs and they all seemed to be really good quality! Anyway we planned to meet Phoebs and Stelle again the next day.

Sunday 28th February
We went into town with the girls to look for full moon party gear, the girls hadnt been into town yet because to get out of our hotel there is a KILLER hill which they hadnt wanted to climb. Then we went back to their room afterwards and watched supernatural.. which I was abit sceptical about be talking now i actually quite like it. We also played an Australian card game called Phase 10 its so good, definitely buying it in Oz! They then kicked our ass at pool. Later Amy and I went to go and get Stelle and Phoebe to come out for some drinks on the full moon beach the night before the 'big party'. So we all went to the Full moon party beach (FMP) a 3 minute walk, got buckets, drank, danced and met random people.. and Matt!.. who iv been speaking to for months on facebook.. i met him on gapyear.com a few months back. It was bizarre seeing him, he recognised us on the beach and came and said hi. In the early hours we got hungry so went and got food, Stelle was DISGUSTED that her hot dog had salad on it. "What is this crap?!" "Erm.. salad Stelle" "Why would they put this crap on my dog!!" Haha. So AMy and I went to get food, 5 minutes later we turned around and the girls had bought guitars, for 22pounds each. A drunken purchase. An incentive for them to learn I suppose lol. So we got back at 4am still laughing about the nights shenanigans.

Monday 1st March
FMP day! Woke up sweltering! The room is boiling after around 9am. So we got up around 12pm then had lunch with the girls, played pool again.. had our arses kicked... again! Phoebe, Amy and I then went into town and got doughnuts, full moon tshirts and banana shakes, they are soo good here, its become a daily ritual for me now. We watched more supernatural and had a practice glow paint session and painted the girls guitars which loked really good! I might do it when I get home!
Later on we went to the cocktail party and buffet that the hotel was hosting. They had decorated the whole place with flags and lights and had any type of food that you could want. As Stelle pointed out they are probably trying to fill everyone up so that there is less chance of people being sick on their return. So afterwards we went and painted ourselves, I somehow ended up with the most paint on!!
When we went out at around 12pm, the beach was really full dont get me wrong but I thought it would be more packed, its high season so its predicted there would be around 30,000 people there. So we went and bought some buckets then went for a dance. We kept bumping into Matt throughout the night which was strange considering the amount of people there. Phoebe had a professional glow painter paint a dragon on her back which did look quite cool. I didn't take my camera out because iv heard so many stories of things getting stolen and took out a disposable one, looking back I would take my digital one next time. There we quite a few people heading over to 'mushroom mountain' for mushroom shakes. So at 4am we went for food then back to the hotel for toasties. Then went to bed at 6am.. when it was beginning to get abit lighter. Preparing ourselves for the lazy day ahead which was inevitable!

Tuesday 2nd March
Got up at 11.30, boiling hot room again. The fan isn't too brilliant. Amy h ad opted for the girls room an hour earlier. don't blame her! So I strolled down to the FMP beach where people were already cleaning it, there were bottle everywhere! And many many flip flops scattered around too with the odd person still passed out on the beach inbetween all the mess, probably without their valuables now. Afterwards we just watched supernatural for most of the day, had tea then went and watched the boat that rocked and phase 10, after we had booked our taxi and boat to Koh Tao for the next morning. I bailed early from the film and went to bed!

Wednesday 3rd March
We got up and went into town to get some much needed money out! Then we went and said so long to Stelle and Phoebe, until we see them in Sydney that is (they wanted us to get tattoo with them.. I said NO WAY!! So they settled at piercings, maybe my ear again?! Who knows!) Then our taxi came and it was bye bye cocohut village. I sat at the back of the minibus on these awful collapsing seats! So after 20 minutes in the minibus we arrived at the port and stuck with the 3 guys on the minibus. Austen, Harry and Matt. Harry and Matt are our age and just on holiday here for a month and Austen has been travelling for 2 and a half years! So we swapped in our tickets and managed to get on the boat first and missed out on a massive queue later on. Lucky too as it meant out bags would be at the bottom, Lee from Koh Phangan said he saw people sticking their hands into peoples bags randomly feeling around for things on their boat over, not that I keep anything valuable in that bag anyway.
So the boat then left and I promptly whacked on my factor 40 (the only one to do so). We saw lots of fliying fish on the boats, iv never seen any before they fly for so long! On the boat Austen had been to Koh Tao before and they hadn't got accomodation yet too so we just decided to follow them. When we arrived in Koh Tao everybody started to pile off the boat onto the pontoon, the pontoon then started to tip right over to one side with people nearly falling in and bags going everywhere so people then ran to the other side to counter balance it or back onto the boat, it was quite funny watching from the comfort of the boat.
We eventually got our bags then trekked to the hotel, about 20minutes away called Tommys resort. This was our first proper experience of having to carry our own bags we felt like proper backpackers and not flashpackers which we keep getting called! So once we arrived it was only 200B each a night (4pounds each) and we were in the room next to the guys. For the rest of the day we went out for lunch and had an amazing sandwich then played bat and ball in the sea, had a few dives into the sea, I was committed with my batting skills ha. Harry found a sea cucumber on the sea floor (iv never seen on before) and batted it to Austen, it then started to ooze and they threw it in the air and all its insides went everywhere it was so disgusting! I thought there were plants not real creatures!! So then we just all sat in the sea playing I spy.. watching the sun set, which was really nice.
When we returned to the hotel I saw how red my chest was in the mirrir.. it was horrendous! I must have somehow forgotten to put my suncream on. So I put lots of moisturiser on then we all went out for tea, its funny here how you order food and it never comes out together, mine came after everyone else had finished.
Then we had some drinks and went to the Ladyboy cabaret, it was free to get in and oh so funny! There was one he/she who had fake boobs, the whole lot done and just paraded round in a tiny thong! Another looked like a girl too. The rest DID NOT! They had really manly jaws and just looked funny. They all sang songs, Celine Dion was definitely my favourite! Harry went up at the end as a volunteer and came out dancing to the YMCA in drag with a few others Brits. Later on we went to Lotus bar for some drinks and a dance, Matt was out of it!! Earlier, Harry had tackled him into the sea with his expensive camera in his pocket, that is definitely broken now!
So later on we walked back to the hotel, Harry being loud and growling at everything he saw, including a thai woman on a scooter who went mad!! Jumped off and ran after this american guy (Adam) we had met earlier that night thinking it was him, she pushed Adam into the bush and proceeds to pull out a knife (I didn't see it I had hurried on) Amy shouts run so we pegged it into the nearest shop until the commotion was over. Trust something like that to happen to us again! Anyway no harm was done, she had just stabbed Adams water bottle, her friend had stopped her. So we walked briskly back to the hotel. Telling Harry to shut up about what he would have done to her along the way! So we got into bed at 4am.

Thursday 4th March
Had a nice lie in till 11am. Then the plan was to kayak round the whole island 21km, which I was getting very excited about! I miss kayaking so much! The boys seemed sceptical, in the end I was the only one who wanted to do it. So we all settled at hiring snorkelling gear and getting a longtail boat to the island Nang yuan island 20minutes away. My chest had now developed small blisters on, so they were smoothered in suncream and covered. Once on Nang yuan its 3 small islands all attached my strips of white sandy beaches it was gorgeous! We then decided to snorkell around one section of the island which turned out to be the biggest bit. I saw so many colourful fish, much more than on Koh Phi Phi, then again this is a diving island for a reason! I saw many sea cucumbers and big fish that were yellow, green, orange and purple, these were my favourite. There were some beautiful shells on the seabed but they were too deep to dive for without your eardrums popping! And also a fish that Amy said was a baracuda.

It got really deep and murky after 45minutes and stayed that way the rest of the way. It took us 2 hours to snorkell the whole way round. A woman at the cafe later told us that was the dangerous bit to swim around because you can't stop so if you get into trouble its also difficult to get help, oh well all was fine. 20minutes before we left Amy decided to run to the viewpoint, I couldn't be bothered, looking back I would have done it. Next time I will!

That evening Harry, Matt, Amy and I all went for tea, played pool and nearly won, but didn't. Then we went back to the hotel and just played cards then went to bed. With my blisters still increasing in size.

Friday 5th March
Woke up and my blisters had doubled in size and looked so disgusting!!! The boys decided to hire bikes for the day, its the easiest and cheapest way to get around, I wouldn't get on one though because it would be hell if you fell off! Amy and I decided to go and see Lindsay and Lee at the Bans resort (best resort on island) where they had arrived the previous day. We got their room number from reception then found them, it was so lovely to see them again! We arranged to see them later that night. Then we went off to the pharmacy for my blisters, the first place wanted to pop them, I said no and settled with cream and aloe vera gel from the 2nd pharmacy. Our day went really quick today. We went and had sandwiches then I spoke to Jenny on Skype and cried when I saw her, what a wimp! So I had a huge chat with her which made my day then a brief chat with Sarah B who was preparing for her flight to Oz later that day! So we went back and had showers, Matt asked if we wanted anything from the shop, I said no thanks but its really cute that you asked.. he went off in a huff, apparently boys are not cute! So now he is not cute he is 'manly' ha, then went out for tea abit late. We arrived late to meet Lindsay and Lee at the fish bowl and we stayed there for an hour but we must have missed them because we couldn't find them anywhere! Which we were gutted about but all our fault really. So then we went to Lotus bar and met up with the guys again, we got bored quite quickly though, lost the guys and got pancakes and left for the hotel, got in at 2am.
Amy and I both bolted upright in bed at 5am. There was a MASSIVE banging noise it was the biggest thud iv ever heard. Then we heard Harry and assumed that Harry had got to the room late and was wanting to get in. Amy went to open the door I said no dont! (It was a good job because the next day when we had moved island we asked them what happened and apparently some people had banged on their door when they were all asleep demanding money that they supposedly owed. Austen sorted it all out, god knows what it was about it didn't last long though it must have been a mistake because all 3 of them are really decent guys! We seem to attract drama).
So after being woken up Amy was then sick in the toilet, it smelt. We concluded that it was the chicken burger she had eaten earlier in the night.

Saturday 6th March
After that eventful night we were woken up at 8.55am the day before we had booked a taxi and boat to Koh Samui, we thought the taxi was for 10am, it was 9am. So we packed in about 3 minutes and ran downstairs. We felt so awful for not saying bye to the guys but 1. we really had no time! And 2. they probably wouldn't have appreciated being woken up. We had also planned to go and say bye to Lindsay and Lee, that too did not happen and we felt awful about that too. So we waited at the port for the boat where we met other FMP goers who told us about their mushroom shake experiences, we have heard so many funny stories, people chasing their own shadow (Austen), talking to the air con, talking to their feet, thinking the sand was thousands of tiny people and just hysterically laughing for hours on end. The stories are never ending comedy! One girl said once she had her shake though the guy told her there was ecstacy in it!
So we arrive in Koh Samui 3 hours later and were headed to Chewang beach, we met some irish girls on the taxi who said it was cheaper where they were headed at Bophut beach so we followed them and found some accommodation at Khunthai guesthouse, which had air con! Luxury! I went for a wee in our bathroom, flushed the toilet and saw a HUGE cockroach swirling down the bowl! I dread to think how close that was to my bottom. Eurgh!! Later on I heard Amy screaming. Cockroach number 2 had surfaced. So she locked herself in the bathroom and after a few minutes of screaming she had caught it! It was massive, I got a picture!
Later on we went for tea at this quite posh restaurant, it wasn't expensive either! Then half way through our meal Amy says "Caroline look who it is!" I look and we both say "CHARLIE!" A guy who loves trekking and helped us with our gold d of e meeting us a checkpoints along the way! We were so excited that we stuffed the rest of our food down then went to say HI! I don't think he recognised us with the amount of d of e groups he deals with but it was exciting for us! We also saw Mrs. Charlie and their "young indian friend". He said hes going trekking in Nepal next week. So we went on the internet afterwards to apologise to Lindsay and the boys for not saying bye. We got back and my blisters popped!! Woo!! I then crashed out at 11pm.

Sunday 7th March
I woke up at 1.30pm! Crazy! I slept for 14 and a half hours, im sure thats unhealthy! It was that air con! So we just strolled down to the beach and met Jill and Anne Marie (the irish girls) and stayed on the beach a while then sorted out or boat and bus ticket for the next day. We then went for tea at the same place, didn't see Charlie again. Then we saw the irish girls in 7/11 (the local coop) and said bye to them, then bed.

Monday 8th March
We woke up at 9am, my chest looked much better. We went and hailed a taxi on the main road at 10.30am to the pier. We had something to eat once we got there, while eating I realised if Lindsay and Lee were coming to Koh Samui today on the boat we came on we would be getting on the boat that they will just have got off at Koh Samui. The boat finally arrived, and guess who got off, Yes Lindsay and Lee! We were all so excited that we had actually got to say bye to them properly! So after our reunion they gave us their VIP stickers and we got air con and cushy seats on the boat, although we had to watch a guy licking his oreo sickly for 20minutes, I wanted to VOM!! So we eventually arrived at Surat Thani and got on an old school bus that was so squashed to the train station which took 90minutes. Once there we got food, were rushed onto our train and off we went. Amy and I decided to get a meal on the train which was good stuff! Then we did rock paper scissors for bottom bunk (the bigger one) I won woo!! Went to sleep at about 11pm. Woke up boiling hot! It was awful, looked at my phone thinking it would be around 4am... it was 12am, I nearly cried! The last trains had aircon! So I went to the toilet, I had avoided it on the last trains, Amy had said it was a hole. It was an actual hole!! So I couldn't lock the door I thought it would be fine, everyone was asleep. Half way through someone is trying to open the door, I was like no im in here! They were persistant for a while then gave up.. The toilets were so disgusting wee everywhere! I came out and had footprints on the floor (I had shoes on!!) It was just eurghh!! So I fell asleep about 1.30am.

Tuesday 9th March
Woke up at 5.30am, arrived in Bangkok at 6.20am then got a tuktuk to the diamond house hotel where we started our trip. I forgot how made tuktuks were, they are so so much fun though! Our room would be available at midday so we had a 5 hour wait. We passed our time on the internet and eating! I had a small packet of crisps and abit of chocolate and this guy (sounded french when he spoke english) says "you want to die early?" I was like pardon?! he said "you want to be depressed and follow in the footsteps of the rest of your country?" Referring to the food. I was like EXCUSE ME?! I am very happy thank you and exercise enough! He went on and on and ON, the receptionist saved the day by telling us our room was ready. So we went up, Amy had a 3 hour nap while I wrote my diary then i napped for 3 hours, woke up at 6pm. Iv really got into this napping business! We went out onto Khao san road but most places we closing so we came back and had tea got lots of ice cream then went on the internet, I spoke to my dad on skype and auntie Jane and Nick, it was so lovely to speak to them all! I think everyone should get skype so we can speak for freeee!! I then spoke to mum and got into bed at 2am.

Wednesday 10th March - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROCH!!!
We woke up today ay 2pm, Amy was disgusted with herself, she thought it was 10.30am. This aircon really gets to me after having just a fan for so long! So the grand palace plan went out the window, so we went for a shop on Khao san road instead, I bought Roch a birthday present, Sarah a necklace and myself some much needed new sunglasses. All down that road are men harassing you to buy suits and dresses of them, one was like I make you a wedding dress, erm no thanks! It gets to the point where its like GO AWAY!!
We then decided to go and get an oil massage, 5pounds for an hour. It was so gooood! Fancied a thai one but loads of people have said they took weeks to recover because they are so rough and hard, they climb on you and punch you apparently. So today my chest is still red raw skin and peeling its so itchy! Its hard not to scratch it! So now we are going to get some ice cream then go on the jacuzzi on the rooftop. This is the life eh?!
Also spoke to Roch earlier to wish her happy birthday which was nice!
So now its results tomorrow and im soooo scared! Iv prepared myself for failure but im still going to cry no matter what the outcome! Gahhhhhhhh!!

Anyway I have ranted about my days enough I can't do it in short, you should see my written diary!!

Love to all as always!

Lots of love, Caroline xxx

Iv just written up this whole entry and lost it!! So iv got to write it up again and pay for another hour... how ANNOYING!!

Saturday 20th February continued...
Okay so we then lay on the beach, i lay in the shade all day because my burn still hurt a little, on these islands there are people from all over the world here.. there was Pablo in the chair next to me from Chile, how random!
Later on we went to Apache beach bar, which was in our complex. There we saw fire limbo, fire skipping and the ring of fire. After attempting the limbo and failing!! We went for a little dance on the beach. We then saw this guy jump through the ring of fire with his backpack on, he really burnt his arm, it looked pretty disgusting and was covered in black smoke stuff. So we went and got one of my antiseptic wipes and nobody else was willing to clean it.. so i did and eurghh it looked so sore!!! Practising out some skills as a medic im thinking ha. So after us telling this guy and other people telling him that he needed to go to hospital or a doctor to get it properly cleaned and dressed, he says no because he had no travel insurance and no money. he then claimed to be a firefighter! As of you would jump through the ring of fire with a backpack on if you were!! Stupid american!
There are a few wierdos that you meet on the beach but its easy to steer clear and avoid!

Sunday 21st February
We got up and ready for our day trip to the other islands on PhiPhi le.. the uninhabited islands of Phi Phi. It was 9pounds for half a day or 10pounds for the whole day so we went for the 10pound trip. We got on a longtail boat which holds 12people and met 2 girls from down south called Alex and Lauren who were both lovely. Most people on our boat were french! First stop was abit of snorkelling where we just saw the same fish really.. but still cool. We then went to Bamboo island which is what you imagine of a tropical island, we stayed there for an hour! We then went snorkelling again and saw more fish but lots of species and some really strange looking things! Some people wouldnt get in the water because we saw a jellyfish when the boat stopped.
We then went to Monkey beach and saw lots of monkeys, big ones and baby ones which were so cute! We also saw one of the monkeys drinking a can of sprite which was hilarious.. i got a picture. The sand here on all of these islands is like sand iv never seen, its so fine and literally melts between your feet!
Afterwards we went to shark point where the water was crystal clear and a gorgeous aqua blue. Nobody would get in the water because of the 'sharks' after a while we realised there are no sharks and it has that name because where its located the mountain is in a shark fins shape. So we all soon got in!
Afterwards we went to our last stop, Maya Beach, where 'the beach' was filmed. It was full of tourists like the other islands which is a shame really. However i had the same sand between my toes that Leonardo Di caprio did.. (Yes Jenny thats right!! i did think of you when I was there! And how jealous you would be haha).
Later on we met up with Alex and Lauren for tea then went to the same beach bar again where i was determined to drink my entire 'bucket' that night because i could only drink a third the night before. it was a bad idea, i was abit ill that night.

Monday 22nd February
Woke up feeling abit worse for wear. Stayed in bed for abit while Amy went to the beach. Eventually got up and had a big greasy egg sandwich that made me feel abit better! Then went in the sea for ages, thank god for my factor 50 suncream investment, iv not been burnt since Phuket now. Because Phi Phi island is so small we keep bumping into people that we have previously met which is quite nice in most situations if we liked them! So that day Amys legs were really itchy because she had been on the deckchair till the very early hours the night before while i was asleep, and she was eaten alive. I roughly counted about 120 mosquito bites on her legs and feet. So we went to the pharmacy and got some Anti inflammatorys, anti hystamines and some cream to get them down, they did look really sore! The guy said it was probably and allergic reaction too. We decided an early night was best I couldnt face the thought of another beach party, but there was music banging until 1am.. so i was packing my bag until 2am. Then we heard a big commotion outside.. we went for a nosey... in short.. this girl was screaming and crying, she had been filmed doing 'something' her boyfriend left her and she wanted to be a magistrate, bye bye career! This drama was better than Coronation Street anyday!!

Tuesday 23rd February
Got up at 7.30am for our ferry to Krabi at 9am. Bumped into yet more people we had met a few days earlier, no doubt we will bump into them again on Koh Phangan. The ferry took 70minutes. We then got a taxi to the Laughing Gecko which someone recommended to Amy to stay at. It was 4pounds each a night and was run by a canadian lady and her thai husband, it was strrange talking to their thai looking children who spoke back with a perfect canadian accent! It was very basic in bamboo huts, the toilet had no flush, you had to scoop water from a bucket and put it down to make your own flush! This place was 19km from Krabi and 1km from Ao nang. We had a nap then in to Ao nang town which was quite nice. Later we went back to this place and going out to the communal bit for tea this finnish woman opposite us tells us how she was mugged a few nights ago on the road nearby. We decided to leave a day early then.

Wednesday 24th February
Got up and got ready for our bus and boat to Koh Phangan a day early. The bus took 3 hours and the boat took 90minutes. We got to this island and off the boat. We soon realised it was the wrong island and that we were on Koh Samui. So we jumped back on the back and headed to Koh Phangan. We got a taxi to our hotel, Cocohut village resort. We have the cheapest room but it ranges up to honeymoon suites its soooo nice!! We decided on an early night!

Thursday 25th February
Its so nice not having an alarm and not having to get up in the morning. So we were up at 10am. This place has its own private beach, a volleyball court, a few swimming pools a spa, i LOVE it!! We decided to check out where the full moon party beach was from our resort which is on Monday. Its a 3 minute walk which is really good! We then went for a shop in town.. i got 2 dresses, a skirt and a pair of havianas (fake i know) for 20pounds ... bargain!! It was quite cloudy and started to pour it down with rain which didnt impress us too much! It was warm rain thoguh which made up for it abit! We then walked back to the hotel and sat by the pool for abit, where i spent about 2 hours writing 20 postcards! So it will be interesting to see how long they take to get home!
That night we just had dinner, had ALOT of ice cream and relaxed for abit!

Friday 26th February
No alarm again.. wooopa! Starting to miss home and away and neighbours abit.. yes ding that is a hint got you to update me!! =] Im going to try and get some pictures up on this site soon! Iv got some up on my facebook page and im just uploading more now of the islands!

Hope everyone is well! Missing you all so much! Go to Australia in 12 days which just feels mental! Thailand has gone so quickly! Im excited for Australia too!! I hear its been snowing and been very cold back home, bad timess!! Its not here!! =]

Will try and keep more updated on here. My photos wont upload on this computer so I will have to do them another time. Sorry!

Love to all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Okay so i only have like 30minutes before i get cut off here so each day will be brief! Internet is expensive down here.. well between 2 and 3 pounds for an hour.. expensive for me okay?!

17th feb continued..
We me these girls from out hotel at the train station.. katie and Hayley from Leeds.. they were lovely and it was nice to finally meet some other backpackers from England! So we got on our sleeper train from Chiang mai to bangkok and it was a newer train than our last one with a wide lower bunk.. and guess whos turn it was for the lower bunk!?! Yes.. mine, which i was very happy about until we went to sleep and The thai woman opposite started snoring soooo loudly! I cant stand snoring!! (as you know Jen) so i had to whack in the ear plugs that me gave me and hope that they would work.

Thursday 18th February
We woke up at 6am to some noisy french people.. not too impressed by that really! We finally made it to Bangkok where I felt sticky as soo as we walked out of the train station its so polluted there! We bought a bus ticket to the airport for 3 pounds and were on our way. After reaching the airport buying a few packs of strawberry pocky.. my new favourite snack we had breakfast and saw our first PROPER LADYBOY!! It was amazing we stared ALOT. Lots of makeup a mega deep voice and tight short skirt. Haha.. aswell as seeing alot more thai women with OLD european men.. its abit disturbing really. There were no seats in departures so we sat on the floor for 3 hours where everyone stared waiting for our flight to phuket. We went thoguh customs.. i got called to one side, my penknife was in my bag so i had the knife bit confiscated.. sorry mum, il buy you a new one.
On the plane we were next to this thai woman called Alex who proceeded to tell us her life story.. we just sat and listened.. in short.. she was 50, spoke fluent english because she married an englishman and lived in London for years, her 3 daughters live in Newcastle and she had an 18month old girl with her, Mollie whos mum left her with Alex at 2months old so Alex adopted her.. Alexs husband then cheated on her with a hooker.. we were shocked and didnt know what to say!! Mollie was sooo cute though, I am seriously going to adopt a thai kid when im older they are the cutest!! I wanted to steal so many from Chiang Mai zoo! ALex also let us know of her wealth.. she holidays every 2months!! lucky her! So we landed in Phuket and Amys rape alarm goes off!! My only advice was to sit on it.. so she did it worked for a while.. i cant tell you how loud it was though EVERYONE stared! HAHA.
Anyway we got to our hotel in Patong in Phuket called square one.. we had the best room, 5 metres from the pool and free internet!! it was great.

Friday 19th February
We bought our boat ticket to Phiphi in the morning.. then went looking for a wax.. i wont go into detail, I know men reading this wont want to know but geeesss Amy made me laugh soooooo much, she had never had it before ahah.
Anyway so we went for a sunbathe on Patong beach, we were told it was the place to stay, the beach was nice and the sea so even better! Swimming right out to sea and looking back at the shore its so hard to believe that the tsunami devastated that whole area, theres no sign whatsoever except there are tsunami evacution signs for where to run if it happens again, not that anyone would stop to read it if it happened. But it is honestly just incredible how that area has been rebuilt.
So we sunbathed for a little while.. i only had factor 15.. mum didnt stock in anymore suncream (yes mum its your fault i burnt like crazy!!)
So later i felt the burn.. i couldnt bend my wrist it was so bad my arms mainly.
We went shopping later, everyone in Patong hassles you so much its so frigging annoying.. I have learnt the art of bargaining though, im a pro now! I got a tshirt from 9 pounds to 3 pounds.. i needed it though to cover my burn for the next day! We got to the main shopping area.. and they had a Carrefour!! I was LOVING IT!! (Dave i can see how you like to spend all day at the Carrefour in France now) So we got some bread.. essential.. I nearly fainted in Carrefour it wasnt coool.. Amy said i went from being bright red to ghost white.

Saturday 20th February
Got up at 6.30am, picked up and went and got the ferry to Phi Phi island. We got there are 90minutes.. off the ferry port it leads you straight to the centre of the market place its so lovely. There are no cars in PhiPhi and no roads. The people carry stuff around in these carts that you push abit like massive wheel barrows! So the guys from the hotel but our bags in one and we walked to the hotel, a 5 minutes walk to a beach on the other side. We stayed at this place called twin palm bungalows, we were in a hut. It was really cool though, I want one in the garden now please Dad. And the most comfy bamboo deckchairs, the whole thing was just bamboo! And they had those huge mosquite nets that go all round your bed that i always wanted when i was smaller. Anyway our bungalow was a 10second walk from Loh dalam beach on the main island Phi Phi don.

My internet it going to cut off at any time so i need to go and I will finish this off tomorrow!
Hope everyone is well!! Love to you all! Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Okay so I haven't updated for a while, so I will go through each day.. I also forgot to bring my diary out with me but I will do my best, bear with me!

Friday 15th February
We got up late, 11am possibly still abit jet lagged.. we produced our map and prepared ourselves for the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, we walked about 10 metres and a local guy saw us and told us where to go and what to do, he then called us a tuktuk (only get ones in blue uniforms) who was to take us around for the day. The roads in Bangkok are mad! They don't have much of a system, but it seems to work, undertaking all of the time (similar to my mum really, ha) and squeezing into the smallest of gaps, some bikes jsut going along on the pavement. This tuktuk took us to a place called T.A.T where we booked for the Floating markets, train to Chiang Mai, accomodation and a trek in Chiang Mai, train back to Bangkok, Plane to Phuket, and a boat and train ticket back to Bangkok at the end of our time in Thailand, the lady Lek was trying to go for the sell.. we didn't go with it! So while we were there for about an hour the tuktuk driver waited for us then took us to a free temple to see lots of traditional ornaments, he then took us to the big buddha which was very pretty, all of the temples are here.
Its funny because you always see a family of 4 on a moped with a small child and the front, dad mum and a baby hanging of the side of the bike held on by its mums arm.. who needs a people carrier?! When the tuktuk took us back to our hotel (Diamond house) he only wanted 40baht (80p) for taking us round for 3 hours, we gave him 100baht each.. he was so pleased, I think we made his day!
Afterwards we then decided to walk to Khao san road.. this is the travellers hub there were so many travellers there! With so so much going on! People trying to sell things everywhere with market stalls everywhere you turned, it was immensely busy.
That night we went in the jacuzzi on the rooftop of our hotel with great views across some of the city! Then bed time!

Saturday 16th February
We got up at 6.15 am to get ready to be picked up for our trip to the floating markets in Ratchburi, an hour and a half drive from Bangkok. When our minibus arrived we were the last people to be picked up, we then struggled to squeeze our backpacks into the minibus as we wern't going back to our hotel afterwards. On the bus the guide introduced himself as 'Ken' which made me laugh, he didn't look like a Ken! He then went on to whip out his facts, 63million in Thailand, 12million in Bangkok, 35 thousand temples. They LOVE their king over here.. he was born on 5th December 1927 and has been in power for 63 years the longest reigning king/queen in the world.. yes I listened intently. I have also learn't that when people ask you where you are from and you say near Manchester they all LOVE you after that because everyone supports Manchester united which is a bonus really!
After our journey there we got on these long, colouful motor boats that held about people. We sped off down the 85% man made canal towards the floating markets.. it took about 20 minutes and it was amazing to see everyones houses built on the sides. Once we reached the floating markets we had a quick walk around and had fruit forced into our mouths.. it was gooood! We then paid 150baht (3pounds) each to go on a smaller boat holding 6 of us with a lady who paddled us down all of the smaller channels.. there were so many boats floating around to other boats stations selling all sorts of different things from fruit, noodles, little trinkets and to having your photo taken with the biggest snake I have EVER seen!! The floating markets were so beautiful and colourful... everyone should have the chance to visit there one day. We were also quite lucky because other people in our group the guy that took them around the market was drunk and spewing all the time.. eurgh! I also asked 'Ken' why all of the children wern't in school?! He kindly pointed out that it was a saturday opps.. its so easy to lose track of days now.
Afterwards we were taken to a wood carving place where we saw people carving a 10ft budda and all sorts of other things, we didnt stay there long.
We then got back in the bus and went to a Gem jewellery store where they tried to sell us things.. this small thai lady followed us round asking what we liked.. we didn't answer. I said we don't want to buy anything we are on a budget she was like you must have money you have only just arrived.. she was so rude! Cheeky bitch.. so we went back to Ken and I complained abit I was livid with her! Apparently we had to stop there it was a minibus stopping places so buses could then take people who all lived in the same area back to their hotel it was easier for them.
Afterwards we were dropped off at T.A.T again where we collected our train tickets, we then waited in the train station for 4 hours for our train at 19.45 which went quicker than I thought. Once we eventually found our train carriage we had 2 seats facing each other.. it was quite exciting because it was a sleeper train and soooo much fun! I now LOVE sleeper trains. The bottom 2 seats slide together to make a bed and the top bunk bed folded down.. I was on top which was smaller.. but I get the bottom bunk back to Bangkok maha. Opposite us was this chinese couple, the husmand kept massaging his wifes feet with oil and everything.. he was whippeddd! There was also this lady who worked on the trains who was bopping to her mp3 who put her earphones in my ear laughing and high fiving me.. she then proceeded to high five each time to walked past ha.. she was hilarious. So when we wanted to sleep the porter guy would sort out our beds give us linen we had a pillow and blanket too and curtains infront of our bed it was really good! It was hot to start with but I woke up at 1am, 3am and 5am and got cold in the night too from the a/c.

Sunday 14th February
Happy valentines day!!
The sleeper train took 14hours and we arrived at 10am to a guy waiting to transfer us to Winner inn.. our hotel. We got there dumped our belongings and went for a walk into town... We went to the chinese markets (its chinese new year here) which was really good and also to the sunday market both of which we really enjoyed and spent hours looking round! We then just stayed in at the hotel that evening.. I gave Amy her cards and she gave me some heart chocs which were yummy! Amy was getting VERY excited for the elephants tomorrow! Chiang Mai is jsut so beautiful, its a world away from the more polluted Bangkok, the heat here is more pure and not sticky. It is so green here with lots of flowers and greenery and the main city has a water channels around in it the exact shape of a square with lots of water fountains. It offers something much different to Bangkok.

Monday 15th February
We got up at 7.15am today and got ready for our 1 day trekking!! We were the first to be picked up at 8am and then went and collected 14 others which took forever! We had our guide Tum (but call me 'tom') and our driver Mr. Ton (but call him 'tony') They always change their names! Anyway so it took 1 hour to drive to Mae Wang, elephant camp! There we went over a newer bridge.. the old rope one was an option but it only looked like tarzans cup of tea really! Over the other side of the stream 7 eleplants crossed the stream and a little baby one they came up and we went up onto a high stand where we boarded our elephant! We named our elephant Nessa.. it was good because she was the only one without a trainer sitting on her which was nice really! We then did a big loop around the village which took about 45 minutes.. going downhill we had to hold on tight so we didn't fall off her! The trainers were all very happy and singing constantly it was so much fun, I have a new love for elephants! Afterwards we fed the elephants bananas and had photos with them, we were allowed as close as we wanted there was no restriction, we then bought a photo each for 150baht (3pounds) of us on the elephant, The elephanst drink 150litres and day and eat 250kg a day! The trainers also have to pay 1000baht on bananas a day for them 5 baht a bunch! (1000baht = 20pounds) So i was glad to give them money! We then drove to see the Karen tribe where 400 people live, the men were working in the fields and the women looking after babies, cooking and weaving scarves. There were many other tourist groups there so it wasn't as authentic. We then left the village and saw rice plants growing!! I got so excited about this because iv done so mcuh about them in Biology and Geogers.. I took pictures! Amy laughed at me alot because i got so excited and we had just had a ride on an elephant.. ha. We walked for 20minutes and arrived at this big waterfall where we stayed for 30minutes.. we thought about going in but the water was so cold and it was that clear or blue anyway! We then walked to another little village where people have moved to from southern China called the Monk village i think! We walked some more and the a 2minute drive to a restuarant place on the side of the road where we ate.. rice sweet potato fruit etc. it was yummy.. better than sweet potato at home which im not a huge fan of. We got talking to an Israeli couple who were on their honeymoon, they were so cute! The had a cat called Olly, how british! They were from Tel Aviv and were saying how where they live is nothing like the news its like another country.. they were so lovely and had a massive wedding.. we are girls so of course we asked! 450 guests!!
Afterwards we took a ride to bamboo rafting, it was essentially 9 bamboo sticks attached together and a guide on the front, we went on with an older german couple who sat on the raft.. we stood like most people.. it was so much fun.. a gorgeous stream and scenery andf a chance to use my waterproof camera case which is great! We the arrived at a big rapid which the germans walked around... the locals splashed us and we went down and got soaked it was hilarious.. the german couple got on again and the raft wobbled loads because we had a waterfight with the locals again.. they got wet and wern't happy.. thought they were really really rude to the Thai people, there are loads of germans here Sarah! We then got off and saw the cutest tiny puppy dog ever!!.. Not as cute as Dougie of course lol. We changed to dry things and went back! When we got to out hotel we saw the 2 girls from the Netherlands that we had met at Bangkok train station it was such a coincidence! We went out for tea that night at a different hotel!
That night we had a good sing song in our room, Amy recorded it and we sound like howling cats its SO funny!

Tuesday 16th February
Today we got up had breakfast and went to Chiang Mai Zoo! It was quite good.. very spread out.. they had loads of fish and other animals like pandas (we missed the baby one), rhino, hippos, gifaffes it was okay.. not spectacular.
So afterwards we went back to our hotel and I had a nap .. I NEVER have naps but the sun drains me! Im still pale mum and have like 20 bites on my legs from the mosquitos, they itch so so bad! So now im in an internet cafe near our hotel and we are going for some foooood!

Iv uploaded pictures from Bangkok and am trying with the Chiang Mai ones now but the upload failed so im just trying again so I might have to try again tomorrow if it doesnt work! They are on facebook by the way! Mum and dad il email you my login details so you can have a snoop around!

Anywayyy hope everyone is well and enjoying COLD Britain! Haha.

Lots and lots of love, Caroline xxx

Hey everyone!
Its 22.16pm here in bangkok and its so so hot and sticky but it is such a huge city so its expected!
I think it might be slight jet lag... flights were fine fell asleep for some of them watched movies it was amazing. hannah montana.. roch be proud and the proposal.. I missed the ends though because I fell asleep through both! On the first flight from Manchester to Dubai there was a lovely guy sitting next to us who drove the oil riggers in Oman.. random! he was sooo tanned and he said it was only a winter tan, I was shocked! There was another guy opn my left who took his shoes off half way through the flight and his feet STANK!!! Eurgh I was holding my nose and saying whos feet smell!.. He didn't get the hint!
On this computer its 60p for an hour! How good is that! Used first aid kit already ha.. cut my finger on an uncapped razor in my bag!
Hoping to get a sim card tomorrow and apparently its stupidly cheap to ring the UK which should be good!
Bangkok is overwhelming.. its so busy and full of life so abit scary. Hotel is great.. room nice abit small double bed bunk beds.. look comfy but rock hard lol. Might book this place for when we come back cause staff are so nice and its in a place with lots of europeans so more homely and feel abit safer. The taxi man was like you want to go shop in the taxi I was like NO... HOTEL PLEASE! NO SHOP! lol.. bit scary but was all fine.. he was nice.
We are hoping to go and see the grand palace tomorrow which Jayne and dave recommended.
I will update very soon on progress and where we are!
Lots of love, Caroline Xxx

Hello! My name is Caroline Rowlands.. and this is my first post, so be patient! On February 10th 2010 at 8pm I will be leaving England and heading to Thailand. I will be travelling with my good friend Amy Porter.

Amy and I

Okay so for those of you that don't know, I will be heading to Bangkok, via a 2 hour stop in Dubai, we will be staying in Thailand for a month and travelling up to Chiang Mai then down south to go island hopping and to the famous Full moon party on Koh Phangan.
After Thailand we will be heading to Perth. Australia on March 11th for 8 days where we will meet my friend Beth Stevens who I met through Canoeing! Beth will be joining us for the rest of our trip. After that we will be flying to Cairns on March 19th and spend 8 weeks travelling down th east coast to Melbourne on a bus pass! I am so so excited to learn to surf and go to the Whitsundays and Fraser Island! Once in melbourne we will be flying to Christchurch, New Zealand on 19th May, we will spend 6 weeks travelling up to Auckland... Im hoping to go bungee jumping in Queenstown if I have the have the nerve out there! Haha. And also hoping to go sky diving too!
My Nanna.. recommended paragliding (jumping) of a big mountain in NZ, we will see about that one! It will be very cold in NZ when we are there so might go skiing too! Anyway we then fly out of Auckland on the 25th June to Nadi (Fiji) for 16days, then fly home on the 11th July via LA, Heathrow and finally Manchester, with 22 hours of flying! Gahhhh! Arriving home on the 12th July at 6pm.

That is my huge itinery so you are all informed!

So far in my gap year iv been waiting on at Duttons and working in the local Grosvenor garden centre which was all good fun! As well as having just finished 5 exams.. which wasn't that fun, im not going to lie!

Iv been through so many emotions, feeling so so excited, to being scared and nervous, but I know I am going with some amazing people and will meet many more and have so much fun. It will be one big adventure and I will get a good tan =D... but not get burn't Mother!!

So with 7 days left, iv only just got my travel insurance, need to get a few little bits and bobs and haven't sorted out any of my gear, im sure this will be done 1 or 2 days before. My organisational skills never fail to impress!

I will hopefully be updating this blog at least once a week and let you all know what iv been up to!

I will update soooon!

Caroline xx