Got any wood?

Today was, on the whole, much like yesterday. I got up late after reading well into the morning... and did, well, some more reading. At around 1pm I wandered down the beach to find a travel agency to book me a ticket from here to Bangkok (i.e. the one I bought to get here, but in reverse), which was no major hassle. I've got to go back tomorrow morning to collect the ticket and then get to the boat by mid-day. This shouldn't be a problem as there is a taxi leaving here around 10am, which will give me time for breakfast, a quick read in my hammock as well as some time to pick up some food for my journey. The travel agent guy said I would only be waiting at the train station for about an hour and a half, but I'm a little dubious. I guess time will tell.

I spent some time with a couple from England today, which was very interesting. This is their last time to really travel together as the guy is about to start a job and won't be seeing many decent length holidays for a while. The girl, on the other hand, is about to start her masters in psychology. Maybe that means she won't see any decent length holidays too.

After some dinner I met a guy from Ireland and another from England... mainly because the Irish guy had the Nikon D70 more than anything else. The three of us spent the evening chatting about travelling, places we'd been (they seemed to have been everywhere!) and places we'd like to go (again, in their case!). This was a really great chance to sit back and relax and a chance to really take in the beautiful sky and sunset. After some hours talking we were joined by a couple of Australian guys who had been drinking some "tea" with a few magic mushrooms. From then on the conversation seemed to revolve around wood, mainly due to the fact they couldn't find any to get the bonfire going again. A little bizarre but exceptionally amusing.

I can't write too much now as it's past midnight already and I have to get up (reasonably) early tomorrow. I've a lot to do.

I've also sorted myself out with a sort-of schedule. Tomorrow I travel to Bangkok and will arrive very early the following day (around 6am) whereupon I will likely head back to the same hotel I stayed at before, drop off all my clothes for washing and then head out to the Grand Palace, which I missed out on first time around. I've got to get at least one ride in a tuk-tuk (although I hear they have those in Chiang Mai) and I really want to pay lots of money and get a decent ringside seat at Muay Thai (Thai boxing). If I can't manage that for whatever reason, I'll likely head out to the cinema in Siam Square and catch up on one of my favourite hobbies... as well as pay tribute to the King.

The following day I plan to head to the old capital of Ayu-something, which supposedly has some really great wats (temples) to visit. My plan was to catch a train early in the morning and pay to leave my rucksack somewhere, allowing me to spend the whole day wat-hopping, before getting on a bus (I really hope a sleeper!) to Chiang Mai, which is in Northern Thailand. There I'll do whatever the place has to offer (quite a bit) before heading up even further north to the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. Depending on time I might try a day excursion into Burma -- more to say I've been there than to actually see anything -- before crossing the border and getting to Luang Prabang in Laos. With any luck I might meet Anna there (if she's checked her email) and then let her figure out what's good to do in southern Laos. Past that I've got no idea. Just head north until I reach China, I guess ;)

Anyway, time for me to head to bed... well, just put my laptop away and slide a bit further down the bed, really.