And then there was one...

Well, imagine my surprise when this time I blinked and not only was I in another country, but another continent, hurtling through a cave in freezing water and a beautiful wet suit/rubber ring combo...ALONE!!! Well, with out a Libby or a Martin, I wouldn't do it alone, that'd be even stupider than doing it full stop!! That's right folks, I've hit New Zealand, hired me a Lucy (the London Bus...or Red Corolla to some) and stared making my way South, dodging thrill seeking adrenaline sports as I go. (Isn't it great mum, you can do everything here, from horse riding to sky diving and rafting, black OR white water...!!!)

So I last left you on the islands of Thailand, which are just idyllic, indescribably so. We explored the Limes stone outcrops of Krabi, ventured to its neighbouring bays and islands on a long tail boat, fed fish pineapple by hand-which is a surprising and perhaps not very healthy fodder, but great fun non-the-less...especially for Libby, who, though would not hold the pineapple herself was quite happy to laugh at my squealed attempts to do so!

We then reconvened with her parents on Puket. This is by far the most touristy destination we hit, it just buzzes (even more so than Ko Samui, which personally I think has an incredibly unfair rep, it is STUNNING). Our plans to dive were delayed slightly as unfortunately Mr Brodie took a tumble on one of the boats, however we got to see the hospital (far less touristy, but nicer than most hotels! And seamlessly run-shame on the NHS!!) and I got to [practise some of my rescue skills/tea making skills. Luckily he was fine and it just meant we had to endure a week of sunning ourselves at their rather lovely hotel and various stunning beaches-this also involved pampering. Shame.

After this strenuous week a party was clearly called for, but not just any, THE party, the Full Moon Party no less. So it was off the the BEAUTIFUL Ko Samui for the weekend to stay and psych ourselves up. Little did we know this was unnecessary as the SPEED BOAT trip to the party its self (on Ko Pang Nyang) was really rather psyching in its self! Talk about arriving in style. I personally am making a personal pledge that if a party doesn't involve a speed boat from now it, it doesn't involve me (get me)!! The party was best summarised the next day as, "merg...blerg....party.moon .full.(apparently.)buckets ."red bull".men.flesh.
PAINT?!music.speed boat.goood......9am bus back to Puket.baaad...mmmmerg...." and then of course there are the photo's...oh dear...! Despite serving alcohol in nothing but bucket form (yes the very same that should really only be used on this beach for making castles) the atmosphere was just electric. Try and have this party in England, and apart from the cold and rain you'd be dodging copulating couples in every sad dune or worse, bottles and punches launched by over fuelled and over testosteroned folk. Maybe it's the sun sea and holiday spirit but everyone was just there to have a good time, be friendly and...well..paint each other!

Unfortunately, all too soon it was time to recover our livers and say good bye to Thailand, and amazing 6 weeks had gone all to quick, but we had a boy to meet. From 2 to three, we let Martin in our traveller's bubble- but only at the deep end mind, we had Malaysia to cover, and only two weeks to do it in. So the ground was hit and we were RUNNING! We covered an old colonial settlement, complete with horror film esque church, the oldest jungle in the world, two of the most modern cities in the world (Kuala Lumpar and Singapore), tea plantations, beaches, botanical gardens and nature reserves; we journeyed from the top of mountains, to the bottom of the ocean- and even caught our breaths enough to stop for a spot of surrey style slumming, high tea in Kuala Lumpar, dining surrounded by Monitor Lizards at the beach and Singapore Slings, Raffles style, in Singapore! WOW!!

My advice, you can not even begin to do this country in 2 weeks, it is fantastic, beautiful and SOOO eclectic. It is a bit weird though, no one, not even taxi drivers attempts to rip you off, not even slightly.

And then there was one...lill ol me journeying the great big NZ on my little lonesome. Bless me. Wish me luck...

C x

Thailand:
http://rhbncac.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2024590&l=19cbd&id=200901546
and...
http://rhbncac.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027737&l=575b9&id=200901546

Full Moon Party:
http://rhbncac.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2029494&l=f822d&id=200901546