Ahhh! After being prodded and pulled, massaged for an hour - I feel like a rag doll! But a very happy rag doll! After an hour of bliss, I'm now contemplating going snorkelling somewhere further up the beach - if I can find a snorkle and mask for rent that is!

It's another hot day - prefect for swimming - again. I'm starting to turn black from so much sun! But, I have been remembering the sun cream, so thankfully no further painful burning!

Yesterday we went into town for some shopping and a look around, had the yummiest Bruschetta ever at a little cafe there. Bought a few sarongs & things, and then back to the bungalows and down the beach for a swim.

I've been incredibly lazy whilst here, but that's what holidays are about hey? Have written a few postcards that I am yet to post, eventually I will walk past a post box and remember to pop them in!

Am not feeling at all home sick - how could I when it's so cold there and everything here is so beautiful? The people, the island, and of course the weather. Moving bungalows was definitely a good idea - more people to talk to in English!!

Still I am missing Mark a little - which is kinda weird, as I didn't so much when I was at home... Maybe because there was so much else to do and think about, and friends around? Who knows, but as everything else, it'll pass....?

Ahhh, so much relaxing can't be good for you but what the hell - I'm damn well enjoying it anyway! My sunburn has almost all faded to a nice brown, and hopefully next time I go lazing on the beach I will remember to reapply & reapply again!
Today we moved out of our bungalow at Laem Son - to a nicer and cheaper one further up the beach - Sun View. Found that we were wrong about the date for the full moon party, it being on the 2nd not the 1st. So I have cut my losses and will be leaving here on the 1st to go to Angkor Wat a little early, gives me more time to look around there before I have to be in Phnom Penh for the Oxfam presentation and projects visits.
So all is still going along reasonably smoothly. I'm thinking I may come back here after Cambodia and Vietnam and check out the full moon party then - if I can get my timing right. If not though there is plenty else to do, and I'm still having a ball!
It's so warm - nice, but am still not used to the layer of sweat covering my whole body - mmm sounds good doesn't it??

Vicky is talking about staying here until she flies back to the UK - so you can imagine just how gorgeous this place is for her to have decided not to travel north to Chaing Mai. But we've exchanged email addresses and will be in contact I think - someone else for me to catch up with when I am in England!
Well I would write more, but can't be arsed!

Picture long white beaches of powder like sand, bungalows right on the beach, and little Thai people walking by to offer you a massage as you sun yourself on your towel after getting back from having a dip in the turquoise waters of the island....
Well that's where I am! Ko Phangan, island of gorgeous scenery and warm seas. Pitty that most of the people here are tossers, but you can't have everything now can you?

Am loving being down here, the place where we are staying is beautiful, but we'll be moving further west later this weekend to somewhere just as good but a bit cheaper with a few more travellers. Am missing talking to strangers...

Got a little burnt today - serves me right I guess, I should know by now to re-apply ye ol' sunscreen... But was so warm, with a slight breeze, that I just lay there til I could feel myself sizzling! Naughty, and now a little uncomfortable. Still as we had the whole beach to ourselves no one was there to laugh at my glowing red legs!

The full moon party is in about a week - apparently about 10,000 people turn up for that one, to party on the beach to whatever music you may be into. Sounds like a bit of fun and maybe that'll be my chance to talk to some strangers and not just strange people... Sorry Dad!

But so far I have been good, and he'd be proud of me. It's been a bit of a detox period - lotsa rice, and water so I'm feeling reasonably healthy. It must be all the clean air here on the island after the pollution overload in Bangkok - you sweat all the time, and then the pollution just sticks to you! My fingernails were permanently black from scratching the od itch. But now they're all clean and white - I tell you I look like a Sydney supporter with that and my red skin! Ha ha.

Well seeing that I have been doing little other than laying on the beach and drinking beer there ain't much more to say. Haven't spoken to many of the people where we are saying - they're either German, French, or having tantric sex in the common area - YUCH!! Still each to their own, and I would've said go find a room, but they obviously already had one as they are staying at the same resort, but just didn't want to use it... How rude!!

What an amazing place this is, full of contradictions, lovely friendly people, and wonderful sights and smells.

Yesterday we went and did the temple tour along with a visit to the Grand Palace - Grand is certainly right! Everything is covered in gilt and mirrors so it sparkles and shines from any side you look at it, and it's all so colourful. There are statues of demons, priests, plenty of Buddhas and almost any deity you'd have heard of, and then some!

To see that and then go on a boat tour through parts of residential Bangkok and notice that along side all this opulence and grandeur is such poverty.... It's a huge contrast to say the least and something that will take me a while to get my head around, if I do at all.

Have done a little more shopping - can't seem to stop! Everything is so cheap, and it's all stuff that I've always wanted.... Ha Ha, not really... Have to stop though as I'm spending money like water and have to have something left for the next 4 months I am here. Although I was offered a part as an extra in an ad about football for 1,000 baht... Didn't take it, or go, am still a little skeptical about all of these strangers in this strange land!! Ha ha - I could've just missed my opportunity at fame and fortune!!

Still everyone is so friendly, and all smile etc when they see you. I had a few people follow me around today, which was a bit strange - Vicki reckons it's because I am blonde, but there are plenty of other blondes around - I think it must be because I'm so beautiful!! Ha ha.

A lot of the Thai's have asked me about my piercing, which they say is nice and then piss themselves laughing... Along with that and the spiky bracelet that Liz gave me for Christmas they must think I'm some sort of crazy westerner punk chick... HA Ha HA! Couldn't really be much further from the truth... Then again who knows what they are thinking - or anyone for that matter?

Well I'm off to the islands tomorrow, a full moon party in about a week and a half and then from there back to Bangkok & across to Cambodia... Am looking forward to chilling out on the beach and lazing around in the sun. It's about time I got out my bikini and tried to do something about my fluro white legs! Still red doesn't really suit me, so I'll have to take it slow...

At last I have arrived to the heat and unusual smells of Thailand! What a long trip, but so far well worth it! I was fortunate enough not to be sat next to a screaming child on the way here, or a smelly rude american - so things are going well!!

I had a little trouble at the Melbourne airport - for a moment or two it didn't look like they were going to let me board the plane - something to do with me not having a return ticket or visas for every country I am going to - I figured I'd sort it out as I go, which in the end is ok - they let me board the plane and there was no trouble getting through customs at this end - PHEW!!

I met a girl who shares my name just after clearing customs and we've been hanging out today - shared a taxi to the city, are staying at the same guest house and have egged each other on with our first shopping expedition down Khoa San Rd. I keep wanting to call her Amanda though as she looks pretty much the same as Mamanda at Oxfam. Still I haven't done it yet - just almost! It's good to have someone to hang out with - she flys back to the UK in about 3 weeks, but I doubt we'll spend the whole time together - especially seeing that she's talking of doing a trek and I don't think I have the energy for that kinda thing yet! She's from Hull so there you go Liz - those people from home do get out and about ocassionally! Ha ha

Well apart from shopping and finding somewhere to sleep for the next few days, I haven't done that much and am planning more of the same for most of the week - maybe head off down to the beach, dependant on what happens with the Cambodia thing and when I need to be there, plus how long it'd take to get there via train or bus. So think of me, sitting back, sinking a few beers and probably having a massage on a beach somewhere warm!

Ha ha!!!!

It's my last day at work!!! YAY!! 8 more sleeps til I get on the plane! Ahhh so much waiting and now it's nearly time! Can't wait to go!

Looking forward to catching up with everyone one last time for a few (or more) beers... and then it's off and away to who knows what?

It'll be soo much fun, definitely an adventure of sorts.

I still haven't had confirmation of the project visits I'd planned, but hopefully that'll be confirmed next week at the latest, and if it doesn't end up going ahead well it's too late to get worried about it, and I'm sure there'll be plenty else to see and do.

So this will be my last blog until I get to an internet cafe O.S

Will try to keep in contact with everyone, and I hope that everything here remains cheery and good while I am gone. Am looking forward to catching up with a few mates in Europe on their 'home turf', and just generally traveling around and enjoying myself.

So it's good bye for now - until I blog from Bangkok! Ready or not, here I come!

Leo July 24 - Aug 23
Thu June 10, 2004
Steady on Leo, and take a deep breath. You're trying to do too much and if you carry on like this you're liable to fall flat on your face. There's nothing wrong with trying to cram so much activity into your busy schedule, unless you've set yourself an impossible task. Try not to make promises that you can't deliver or which will end up being very expensive.


Ha ha - How true, but a little late now... The trains already left the station....

What kind of WEIRD and FUCKED UP world are we living in???

Yep I'm off on another rant...

I heard this morning that Jahe the Terrible has been saying that I killed his dog. I must be a bloody super hero, or God, considering I wasn't around the weekend that she died.

But that's not the bad bit - in fact that bit is kinda funny compared to the next bit.

He's GETTING ANOTHER PUPPY. I can't believe it! It's not enough to ruin one dogs life, and kill it in some sort of psychotic rage, but he has to go through it all again with another innocent being. Makes me so angry I feel sick!!

Worst thing is that there is nothing I can do about it. RSPCA couldn't do anything to save Wunja's life, and I have little faith thaty they will be able to do anything in regards to stopping him get another dog, or to make sure this one is treated well.

I just can't believe it's about to happen all over again.

Aside from that, I'm about to leave, getting my shit together and about on my way. Still staying with different friends, although not moving around so much this week I hope,I feel like I need a little stability before I go. Julianne is kind enough to offer her place to me until I fly out, so I think that I'll be taking her up on that for the most part of this and next weeks.

Wish I was outta here.

Only 6 more days of work! If you don't count this one that is.... And only 17 days till I go! Wish I was on the plane already, this waiting is killing me!! Still I am slowly handing over my work, and clearing the final things that I have to. Not much left to do directly in regards to getting ready to go away - which is good. Basically I'm just hanging around waiting for my plane!
Life has all gone a bit strange with some friends. I was put in a position by one friend, of keeping a secret from another friend. And then asked directly by that other friend about the thing I wasn't supposed to tell. I'm not so good at lying about things, especially if I think the person asking has a right to know about what I know. So I told... I think whether or not I had of said anything I would still be in trouble with either one or the other.
Ahh well, it's too late now. I feel bad about telling, but also think that the friend I told is better off for knowing, but unfortunately it's not the same for the first friend... It's all a bit wrong from start to finish, and maybe I have lost a group connection that I was building, but that's the way things go sometimes, and there's no point in worrying over 'spilt milk' or in this case spilt words.
Shall see what happens, like I said to begin with I have 17 days left in Aus, so that's 17 days to see how things will turn out. If it turns out opposite to the way I would like it to, then the bright side is that there are less people I need to keep in contact with and miss while I am away... Not such a bright side, but you have to look for the silver linings somewhere don’t you?
I guess in one way it will be interesting to see how it all pans out…. I hope it doesn't leave everyone in disarray, and don't see why it should unless people want to make it into a huge drama... Ah well, it's a wait and see situation now.
Aside from that though, life has been pretty peachy! I went and visited my best friend on the weekend just gone. She's doing really well and her two kids are such sweethearts! We had a good laugh and a chat. I did some cards while I was there which were really helpful - one about the issue above and another reading just generally about the short-term future.
The one about the short term future was strange in that it brought up the issue of my dreams, which has been on my mind for the last few weeks or so. I’ve been trying to remember them more clearly and understand what they are telling me. So I took that on board and have been trying different dream exercises I know to try and jog my memory about my night-time travels. The weird thing was though that the day after doing the cards with Jen, we went to a market and I found a book, pretty much straight away on how to dream – and remember them. So that was a bit of serendipity/synchronicity for me.
On the Sunday night I could up with my sister and her family for the last time until who knows when? That was pretty good too, she’s pregnant at the moment, and by the time I get back – if I get back when I plan too – it’ll be over 2 years old…. It’s kinda strange leaving as things are about to change in a reasonably dramatic way… And it’s not just with family.
All this week I’ve been buzzing from one friend’s place to another – but it’s working out as an excellent way to catch up with everyone before I go. At least this way I get to see everyone and have a ‘proper natter’ before we go to the pub to celebrate with drinks my imminent departure!