Khao Sok National Park

Greetings!!

It took us about 3 hours to get to the Park, but on the way we met Jen (american) and 2 Israeli girls - can't spell their names!! We booked bungalows in the jungle, Em and I shared with Jen.

On the first day at KS we booked Elephant Trekking through the jungle.... whoever was the first person to say that these animals could take humans for an enjoyable ride were very very wrong... We trekked high up into the jungle - this part was ok.... it was the downhill parts - they were unbelieveably scary - it is around 3 days since the trekking and i still have brusies on my upper body from holding on so tightly!! Our elephant was named "Kong" - very apt as he was huge!! To rip off a line from Titanic,...My heart was pounding the whole time.

In the evening after the trekking we booked a night safari through the park - there was me, Em, the thai guide and 3 big fat torches!! We didn't see much, a slow loris/sloath thing (basically a night monkey), some very big spiders, a trantula (spelling??) and fish, tadpoles, frogs - it wasn't at all scary, but it had been raining earlier that day and it made the tracks very slippery.

The next (last) day we booked to go tubing - you sit in a giant rubber ring and lazily float down the river Khao Sok - it was fun, but i got my forearms a little burnt - the rest of me has completly healed, my face is back to English white and the rest of me looks a little golden!! This is for Lou's benefit, she was worreid about my sunburn!! I am using factor 30, wearing shades and a big fat hat to keep me covered up!! I seriously debated buying a burka at one point!!!

So last night we took the night ferry to Koh Tao on the West coast of thailand - the crossing was horrific - the ferry didn't have seats it had rows and rows of matresses (For those of you who have seen Harry Potter - it was like the nightbus on water!!). At first it was ok, then when we were all asleep the water turned mean - huge waved tossed us all about and we were sliding around on these flimsy matresses - I was really bad with sea sickness - I don't usually get it but i am still swaying about now - lovely!!

So, now we are staying in a lovely resort with a swimming pool and I have booked a 4 day open water PADI diving course. It has cost 10600B which is around 155 GBP it includes accomodation, breakfast, you are taught how to dive, all the safety stuff and get to do 4 dives. The instructor is Scottish so at least i will be able to understand him!!

Oh, for those of you who have asked about the food - I am managing very well on Thai food!! It really yummy esp. red curry and rice.

Well, i should go now as I have left Jen by the pool with all my stuff, and it's so hot I fancy a dip.

Enjoy the snow!! I will upload more photos when I get to Ko Samui or Ko Phangan I think.

Love Jac xxx