First real post ... now with photos

This is the leaving party at Perth Airport - minus Sophie the photographer for this one (Thanks!)

Wasnt too many tears, apart from maybe when we left sight of each other through the customs doors... ;)
Thanks for all your support and friendships guys. *sniff* *sniff* Its great to get going, but we will look forward to seeing you all when we get back!

Spent Day 1 in Bangkok pretty much sleeping. In the evening we wandered up and down one of the main streets (Silom- which means windmill) and just settled for a hot chocolate and moccha at Starbucks. (sad I know... :( and turns out it cost more than 3 main meals at a nice find we made later in china town! :/ Live and learn. (doing lots of that the hard way)
Day 2 was wandering around more of Bangkok. Booked trip south to two islands (Ko Samui and Ko Phangan) at T.A.T.
Could have been mega ripped off, but to be continued... see what happens when we get back to bangkok. >(
Had a fun "Tuk-Tuk" Ride (called that because of the sound of its 2-stroke) through all the hussle bussle and polution. (see sleeping driver picture for an idea. Now add 20,000 cars and bikes and other Tuk-Tuks and a pinch of dodgem cars.)


Day 3 Wandered more.. (legs are definately getting a work out)
Took a river Taxi to "Wat Pho" Temple and the outside of the Kings (old) Palace.
Lots and lots of gold leaf... and buddah style statues... and more gold leaf everywhere....

Had a good laugh watching traditional monks walking past in robes and hand-made sandals - only to have the latest Western polyphonic ring-tone blare out and all of them scramble and rummage through their robes to pull out their mobile phones! :D

Caught an overnight 7pm bus (fairly nice, luxurious double decker) to the place to catch the boat to Ko Phangan.... 12 (over airconditioned / freezing) hours later... :o
2 hours waiting in the middle of nowhere at a shelter with no signs and about 60 confused back packers who had no idea where they were or what was going on, then 3 hours on the boat and we were on Ko Phangan.
And this is where we are now. (for 5 days)
So far we have done a bit of lazing on Salad Beach, (no relation to fresh veges)

Went hunting for cheap(er) food and today hired a scooter and went round the island. Very scary roads and even scarier drivers.

Clammered up a very washed out mountain trail to see some nice waterfalls and a good view from the top.

Saw the touristy towns and now we know what to avoid in the future! ;)
Tomorrow is booked for a days SCUBA diving instruction and a boat trip to try out the theory.
Stay tuned for more rivinting updates :)
Love you all, Tim and Renee.

PS - sorry for rubbish layout... will sort out another time when I'm not annoyed how long this takes (and how much its costing)