In the most amazing place on earth!

Guess where I am... THAILAND!!! It has become my most favourite place in all the world and I may never leave! When I first got to Bangkok, I was sooo nervous but everyone was really friendly and I felt so safe! I didn't like Phuket one bit though. I arrived there at about 1am and some guy was shouting in Thai and shoved like 12 people into a van that could fit no more than 5 people. I got to my hotel which was really nice but I kept singing Hotel California over and over because it was so dead that it felt haunted. The next day I took the shuttle to Patong beach where I took a bus to Phuket Town. I have never gotten so much attention in my life! Some random guy tried to get me to go in his car and I was so sketched out until I found another taxi driver who seemed legit until he tried to sell me overpriced diamonds which I'm pretty sure weren't even real. I finally got to Krabi after so much confusion and craziness and I fell in love. My hotel was amazing and had a really nice view of the river and I have to mention that the food was to die for. There was little street stalls that sold smoothies in plastic bags for like 10 Baht and I ate amazing seafood there. I met a few girls and had dinner with them there and I even met a Canadian guy named Nick who I've spent the last few days. We got to know one of the vendors really well and he had a Chiang beer with us, we didn't have a clue what he was trying to tell us though. I stayed in Krabi for longer than planned and had such a great time. I did a long boat ride and got to hold a blow fish, and went into caves from the movie "The Beach." I discovered something there as well... it's called shopping. I was hooked! It's so cheap that I can barely close my bag! Most of it doesn't fit though because Thai girls are all size zero it seems. After a few days of eating, drinking, and shopping, we took a boat to Reh Lei beach which was incredible. We stayed a few nights in a sketch bungalow where many roaches called home and the shower was electric if that makes sence. It was also a 15 minute hike to get there... up stairs. But we spent most days at Phenang beach which was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. There was even people cooking at the beach! I ate pad thai and got a foot rub right on the sand. I even got a whole pineapple for 30 Baht and it was so sweet. It's like heaven! I did some climbing as well which was cool but it was too hot. I even pet a wild monkey eating pad thai which I realized after could have killed me and I wasn't supposed to touch it. It seemed so innocent but people think I'm nuts now. Now I am in Ao Nang because I'm waiting a friend to go to Hong Island who isn't showing so I think we'll spend the night here and I'll head to Phi Phi tomorrow! I am so overwhelmed by this place and it's so cheap! I have to mention the most important thing... just for you Melissa. Food food food. It's a fat person paradise here! I have been eating THE BEST seafood and noodles and fresh fruit smoothies all the time for sooo cheap! I only felt sick once too! I am saddened by the hundreds of sick cats here. I have never seen so many stray animals who look so diseased. Well, there is so much to tell and so much to see I can't explain it in words. Unlike Australia, I am treated like a queen! Thai people are the friendliest folks you will ever meet. It's almost time to go home and all I know is I never want to leave! It's beautiful, strange, funny, exciting, scary, different, and incredible all at once. I can't wait to share more stories with all of you!

Cheers, Tray xx

This is the end, my friend...

Well, my Oz trip is finally coming to an end. I'm back in Gisborne where I am freezing my arse off but no fear... I will be in sunny Thailand in less than a week. I can't believe six months has gone by so fast. I guess it's not over yet though. I still have 5 days left and plan to see Melbourne once again. So to keep you all updated, here's what happened after I last blogged. In Cairns, I went rafting and snorkelling and did some much needed partying after three weeks of detox at Home Hell. I had a great time there and wish I could have stayed longer. I met some really great people who I hope to see again someday and saw beautiful fish and coral in the Great Barrier Reef. I didn't see any turtles but maybe in Thailand since I'm planning to snorkel again there. Rafting was wicked but there could have been a lot better rapids but I got a cool photo out of it. After Cairns, I was on a bus for 36 hours straight which let me tell you, I will NEVER do again. I could not sleep on the bus due to the freezing cold air con and the two lovely children sitting behind me. Plus... it was a bus. They don't exactly make them to comfortable. I finally arrived in Alice Springs after seeing 36 hours of yellow grass, a few cows, and like two petrol stations. Northern Australia isn't exactly the most exciting place. But I had such an awesome time there. When I arrived, I was so tired that I just slept all day and then went on my 3 day tour to Ayers Rock at 6am the next day. I have never done a better tour! It was sooo low budget but I think that's why it was so good. My group was so awesome and friendly, our tour guide was really funny and so laid back, and the trip was just incredible. The first day, we went to Kings Canyon and hiked for 4 hours which was brutal but really beautiful and we had a swim at the end which was nice. Then we ate lunch which was no other than tuna sandwiches. After, we drove to our camp site which wasn't actually a camp site but just a open space with some shrubs. We had a nice camp fire, had some beers (ofcourse) and ate pasta which we made ourselves on a portable stove. We slept in swags, which are pretty much sleeping bags but have a little foamie thing at the bottom and keep you a lot warmer since there was no tents. It was so cool though, sleeping under the stars beside a camp fire. The next day, we woke up at 5am, had nutella on bread as breakfast and did another hike at a place called Kata Tjuta aka. the Olgas. This was amazing and the hike was a little easier although it was 8km. After this, we went to a Aboriginal gallery and had lunch which consisted of a tortilla, some tuna, and left over veggies fromt the pasta. Oh, and not to mention, flies since you couldn't really open your mouth without swallowing a dozen. We drove some more to watch sunset at Uluru (Ayers Rock) and ate a really nice chicken curry then we drove to our camping destination, again, a bush. We roasted marshmellows, had more beer, and told stories by the fire. On the last day, we woke up at 5am to watch the sun rise over Uluru which was beautiful and then we drove there and climbed it! Well, there was only like 5 of us who actually did it and I am sooo glad I was one of them. It took about two hours of climbing but the view from the top was incredible. I was so proud of myself! After this, we headed home. Well, back to Alice Springs. This was such a perfect ending to my time here in Australia. I experienced the real outback and loved it! I didn't even freak out that there was no running water, toilet or mirror for 3 days straight. When we got back to Alice, we had a big dinner together and said our goodbyes. Two days later, I left beautiful 35 degree weather to come here. Not that I was a big fan of Alice since there was nothing to do and it was really dangerous for backpackers. I did cuddle baby roos though. So now I am with my Oz family or you might know them as "fake parents" and I have my own bed in my own room, and home cooked meals, spoiled! I know they read this so I guess I should say things like "they are such amazing, loving, warm-hearted people" and "what would I do if it weren't for them?" True on both accounts, they really have taken great care of me. Besides the slave labour, the beatings, and bathing in a plastic tub of used water, it aint so bad here. If you guys are reading this, I know I've said it before but thank you so much! You really have been a blessing. And RJ... you have tried your best to irritate me, tell me off when I need it, make me eat healthier, and compete with me in every way possible so despite what you say, I think you've been a damn good brother. And despite what I may have said to you, you have been there for me in so many ways (even 5 years ago) and you've put up with me living in your house so cheers mate! Anyways, enough with the sap and I'll get on with it. I'm leaving for Singapore and Thailand in a week and I can't wait to share my stories with you all! This will be my last blog from the land of Oz, so sad, but I hope you've enjoyed reading about my adventures. Sorry I couldn't blog more or post many photos, but I won't shut up about it when I get back and you will be tied down and forced to look at my photo album so no worries!

Cheers, Tracie xx