• View more photos »

...WOW what an amazing start to travelling! Dont have much time as im waiting for the over night bus to Koh Tao to meet Charlotte and Alison... but i will hopefully be able to give you a quick update so far!!!(with the help of my journal!)

Sunday the 30th came around so quickly after leaving work and saying goodbye to everyone, it still didnt feel like i was going, untill i got to the airport...Leaving mum and dad at the departure point was horrible!! im sure that will be the hardest part of my 6 months away!!After lots of tears and getting settled on the plane i passed out... had a whole row to myself!within what felt like minutes i was off the plane, in bangkok airport, in a taxi and in my hostel room. Time to head to khao San Road, it was a bit of a shock... a long road FULL of thai stalls and bars, PACKED with travellers from across the world. I felt too scared to just go and sit in one of the bars people had already began to drink for the evening and seemed in groups. I headed back to the hostel for dinner and before i knew it i had said hi to two girls, Kat and Lisa and joined them for a meal... they had been on my plane, but we hadn't seen each other! we tackled the Khao San road together and had our first beers of many before an early night.

Tuesday was an action packed day crammng in a combinaion of the grand palace and Wat Pra Kaeo, incredible bulidings with stunnng design and intricate detailing, dip in the swimming pool... IT's SOOO HOT here!! After we had cooled down we did a boat tour of the bangkok river which was really good. There was such a contrast between the sky high towers in the main city to the little shacks built on water... 2nd dip in pool! still really hot at 6! had an amazing meal back by the river before heading to the red ight district in Patong...what a laugh! saw our first ladyboys, got bombarded with people trying to get us to see ping pong/ chop stick shows ( i have no idea!)but we stettled for a cold beer just off the main street and quite happily watched all the action and people around us... So many old western men with pretty Thai girls!

Said bye to Kat and lisa first thing on wednesday, before heading off to the National meusum with two guys form birmingham Gaz and Jaz. I enjoyed the museum agve me a good insight in to the history and culture of thailand (which was really needed after just spending time in the touristy areas!) Didn have much time to do alot today as i head to check out and get the overnight train to Chiang Mai... which i was dreading!

Once again i was worried about nothing, it was a really good experience. The sleeper trains are very clean and tidy. You get fed and watered then your bed is made up for you so yo can get a good night sleep... which i took full advantage off... my best night sleep since i arrive in Thailand!

Arriving in chiang mai at 7 in the morning wasnt so fun... still half asleep i was faced with a wall of people SCREAMING TUK TUK / TAXI at me! it was a bit full on so i sat down and got a drink untill most of the drivers had gone befor getting a taxi to Juiles guest house. Juiles is a very trendy and relaxed hostel and before i had finished my breakfast had met a group of guys that were all travelling alone too. Their plan for the day was to get massages from the prisonsers at the womens prison ( they train them to help them get jobs when they leave and they obviously need to practice!) so i though why not!! and i tagged along! wondering what i had let myself in for!!... The electric was off atthe prison!...shame...!! hehe!! so we went to another Massage shop and had a fantatsic Thai massage... not what had expected there is a lot of stretching and bending but leaves you feelng really good after! After dinner we hit the night bazzar for some shopping. It was crazy! packed with thai's and tourist trying to haggle and get the best deal, i restrained my self and didnt buy any thing nothing had really caught my eye... and well there is no room in my bag! Finished the evening off with another beer again!

Friday was the start of my 3 day trek..In the morning i visited the long neck tribe in northen chaing mai ( see the photos) all the females in the tribe (from 5+) wear copper rings around their necks ( the more rings the older you get) i tried on half of these rings and they are incredibly heavy not to mention impossible to move in!

...have run out of time!! will finish updating you soon! love to you all nikki x

P.S... havent read the blog back through so sorry for my spelling, grammar and general blabbering on! x