Thailand

I can bearly sit on the seat, I burned my bum so bad in the sun today (with factor 50 on aswell)!! Anyway, back-track a bit...

Tuesday: Me and Alex decided to go to Singapore Botanical Gardens, which was good, but so hot we didn't last long! We saw a massive lizard which I think might have been a Bearded Dragon, it was just wondering around the gardens! Then that night we went to the Night Safari! Absolutely amazing! You sit on a tram, and they take you around a track with different wildlife on each side that you have to look out for (kind of like Jurassic Park, minus the dinosaurs). We saw tigers, leopards, elephants, hippos and loads more! And at specific points you could get off the tram and follow paths to see the animals closer up from view points. We also walked through a bat cave, which was amazing! The little bats were flying around and eating bananas so close you could touch them, and then some massive bats were just hanging from branches! It was just incredible!

Wednesday: It was really sad saying good bye to my aunt and cousins, but the weather in Phuket looked good and so rather than spend money on a new flight we decided to just get the one we'd booked. Arriving to clear blue skies really put our minds at rest about the flooding. Phuklet really hasn't been affected at all! As soon as you walk out from baggage collection you get harassed by taxi drivers trying to make you spend between 1000-2000 Baht on a journey. Luckily we spotted the minivan service charging only 180 Baht, so off we went to our hostel (we pre-booked from Singapore just to save time wondering around in the heat). The hostel is ok. We're in Seabreeze Inn, clean and safe, and relatively cheap. Very close to the beach too! All we really did was have a wonder around to get our bearings, and then go out for dinner late last night. We decided to go for drinks too, and sat at the "Cocktails and Dreams" pink VW van. Stupidly got a bucket size cocktail to share, which was very strong!! I can now see why Phuket is a place you either love or hate. We went to a bar that was just full of sleezey old men groping young Thai women, it was disgusting, so left pretty quickly! There isn't much of a youth nightlife on Phuket, more for the older gentlemen!

Thursday: Today we decided to have a lazy day after rushing about non-stop since getting to Singapore. Went and lay on the beach for ages. The sea it amazing, so clear you can see your feet when the waters up to your neck still, and so warm! We stayed on the beach for hours. Being very good, putting on factor 50, and yet I am burned so bad on my bum, feet, legs, and back! Not cool!!
We're currently on the PCs in an internet cafe to find something to do tomorrow, and then to see what the weather is like on Ko Phi Phi Island, as I really wouldn't mind spending all next week there!
I've also learned how to haggle! Luckily Alex told me that they expect you to haggle in shops and for taxis. We've been practicing on small stuff like beach towels, and hair stuff etc. I think we're getting better :p not too sure though!

Anyway, I guess I'd better start looking at Phi Phi weather! Hope everyone back home is ok!

Rach xx

(PS now have Thai sim card so number has changed again, sorry)