The trip to the Goldon Triangle was great!  We did various things but the highlight was by far the boat ride to Laos.  We travelled by long boat which was fast and fun!  I had forgotten how much I love boating!  Anyway, when we got to Laos there was, of course, a market for the tourists.  One of the things sold at the makrket was bottles of whiskey with dead animals in it.  there was a choice betwee snakes and scorpians (from what I could see).  essentailly, the animal is killed, stuffed in a hip-flask sized bottle and then whiskey is added to it.  The idea is to drink it as a shot.  we were able to try some of the snake whiskey (which I duly did!) - I have put a photo on the website so you can all see what I drank!  i tell you what, talk about pushing the boat out!!  Not bad for a girl who is phobic of snakes aye!!!

The following night we went to the night market.  Apparently the market in Chiang Mai is supposed to the best.  I have to say it was pretty fantastic. the only thing was, I would barter with the vendors and get them to a really low price (It turned out that I was trying to get the goods from one guy for what it cost him to get the items in the first place!), then I would feel guilty, like I was ripping them off!  I soon got over that tho....

Then it was off to Phuket.  I have to say that Jules and I were both very sad to be leaving the place we stayed at in Chiang Mai.  the staff were so friendly and really made an effort to get to know the tourists.  it was also a very social place and I don't think we would have enjoyed Chiang Mai as much if we hadn't stayed at BMP Resident.

Anyway, we are in Phuket now which is great.  we have been doing a lot more relaxing here that we have done to date.  Yesterday we went on a canoeing/boating tour which was awesome!  In the course of the trip we went to the island where James Bond 'The man with the Golden gun' was filmed.  We are doing a tour to Phi Phi islands tomorrow which is where 'the Beach' was filed. 

I can't believe how much more expensive it is here in Phuket compared to where we have been!  Things are twice the price, sometimes more!!  I am really keen to go to Muay Thai (Thai boxing), but we didn't really get a chance to go in Chiang Mai.  I now wish we had cos it was only 400B there whereas here it is 1200B!

One thing I find very amusing about Phuket is that it feels like a total meat market - someone is always checking someone else out.  What is even funnier is that Jules and I seem to be a bit of a hit with that thai guys!! Haven't seen any that we fancy yet tho.....I know how many of you had us married off by the time we come home, so we will keep our eyes open for you!

Anyway, as many of you know, I am actually supposed to be job hunting (not e-mailing!!) so best I get to it.

Hope you enjoy the photos (seem to be missing some from the trek we did in Chiang Mai so i haven't updated that one yet)!  We leave phuket sunday and at this stage we are thinking we will head to Koh Samui, but that is yet to be confirmed.

Lots of love,

A

xx