My First Post

This is my first post. There are only 3 weeks work left and then we're off! Have nothing organised yet but what the hey...

Have loads of web work to do before I go but we'll get through it and then I won't have to look at a piece of code for 8 weeks at least! The next post will be in Bangkok, Thailand... Bring on the 24th of July.

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Itinerary Time

I thought I'd better post an itinerary before I go. Just incase some poor soul feels the need to know where the hell Jonny has got to...

- Depart 24th July.
- Arrive in Bangkok. Stick around for a couple of days.
- Fly (hopefully) to Chang Mai.
- Head to Hanoi through Laos (which we hear is really nice).
- Travel through Vietnam to Saigon.
- Into Cambodia.
- Back to Bangkok where hopefully we'll meet the Leprechauns (Ian & Joe).
- Down to the islands, Ko Tao and Ko Phangang for full moon, half moon, quarter moon parties and the hell it's Tuesday let's have a party. Also and some scuba-ing.
- A little bit of time in Malaysia before flying out from Singapore.

So basically roughly a week each in North Thailand, Laos/Vietnam, Cambodia and then 3-4 weeks in the south islands before flying out of Singapore.

That's pretty much it. If anyone has any suggestions where we should and shouldn't go then let us know!

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Engines are GO GO GO

To celebrate our going away, Mal has organised a day out at the Go Kart track this Saturday. Obviously there is fierce banter and competition between the lads as to who will be bringing the glory home...

We have the form guide and odds below. Also provided are the Mario Kart 64 characters most descriptive of the drivers' talents:

Favourite - Julio (Mario)
Former Irish Champion Karter
EVENS

Contender - Jonny (Yoshi)
He's just brilliant full stop!
2-1

He pulled out cos his moth said it would be dangerous - Rusty (Bowser)
After telling his moth, "he's getting his hair done", he'll be at the starter grid... He's a dark horse this one.
5-1

Will his car even make it there? - Keith (Wario)
No form but if he drives that heap of crap he must have a chance!
13-2

Die Hard to the last - Batts (Donkey Kong )
Batts has been priming himself with months of conditioning for this one event. Babs & Stocks all the way
7-1

Safe bet - Dexter (Paratroopa)
Steady through the corners and lightening on the straights.
8-1

The Sharpshooter -Nialler (Diddy Kong)
Will be efficient and accurate through the corners but will he have the staying power?
10-1

Bitte - Burns (Koopa Troopa)
Will be wild and eratic but could be to his advantage
12-1

Underestimated - Ro (Toad)
Could be the outside bet with a chance, he'll be drinking red bull all Friday night!
13-1

Cautious to the last - Malojo (Princess Peach)
Will he play it too safe?
16-1

No hoper - Ray (Luigi)
Can hardly get out of the estate with his driving lessons...
25-1

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The Results are In!!!

We have the results of the Grand Prix! PADDY POWER were paying out before the race on Julio and they were right too...

1st - Julio (Mario)

2nd - Keith (Wario)

3rd - Dexter (Paratroopa)

4th - Ro (Toad)

5th - Mal (Princess Peaches)

Retired - Rusty (Bowser)

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We're HERE!!

Hello everyone!

We arrived today at 15:30 (Thai time) in Bangkok on a cloudy, humid day. With traffic and taxi haggling we were in the city centre by 18:00. We headed for T.A.T. (on Cheevers' advice). TAT is the Tourism Authority for Thailand. For once Cheevers' advice paid off!

The nice lady booked us 2 nights here in Bangkok, a bus to Chang Mai (North Thailand), a 3 day trek while there plus accommodation and also transport to Laos' capital (which I forget the name of atm).

So we have our next 2 weeks planned. She is also gettting our VISAs sorted for Vietnam. Only downside will be a 8 hour slow boat in Laos but they no longer do the "fast" ones due to the safety hazards involved in that form of transport.

Off to try some food and have a look at some shops, we'll try and get a pint somewhere too!

Thanks to all that gave me a call/text or came out for a drink before I took off. It was tough leaving y'all!

Talk to ye soon, YES YES!!

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Tuk Tuk & Baht Baht

Right the Tuk Tuk is the first mention in this post. What a vehicle!! We should get these in Ireland without a doubt. They fly (or "bomb" as Brian calls it) around the place. If you pay more than 100 Baht anywhere across Bangkok then go ahead and write sucker on your forehead.

We had one guy who drove us around in a circle 3 times yesterday... Eh, what do we look like? Idiots? They are the coolest way to get around. Tuk Tuk one and two are below. We ran outta battery in Tuk two... You can hear me saying, "the battery is flashing" at the end of the the second vid, roffles.

www.jealousofjonny.com/site_media/tha...

We haven't a lot of pics cos we bought a charger yesterday but then had to charge the camera last night. Today at 18:00 we head for Chang Mai by bus. Not looking forward to that (approx 10 hours) but we'll be sleeping some of the way hopefully.

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Flying VIP!

Just a quick post. Heading down with two couples, Irish and Dutch, to the night spot in Chiang Mai. We're up at 8:00 in the morgen so won't be a late one. We have a three day trek now so thought I'd post really quickly so you guys wouldn't think I'd disappeared!

Had a good bus journey to Chang Mai. Took 9 hours but it was on a great bus. Will post photos, most pimped out bus ever! Beats CIE hands down... Looking forward to the trek, going with 4 Irish girls, a Dutch couple, an Irish couple and two Welsh girls.

Today was very hot, no sun burn though :) Missing everyone loads but the sun, the faces, the smells, the food, the exitement of what we'll be up to tomorrow is driving us both on.

We have a new plan too. The plan changes everyday. Will reveal all soon. Stay safe as Rainbow would say, YES YES!

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Tah Blu Rasta!! (Thank You)

Saturday morning at 8 bells we got up to head to the mountains. Two guides, Tarzan & Promise, were leading us to some villages that were part of their White Caen tribe. They are not Thai, they speak their own language. Villagers from these tribes speak no English, and no Thai in some cases!

The Trek was unbelieveable! Very hard in searing heat and heavy humidity. We trekked upwards for 4 and half hours. For the last 200 hundred yards it started monsooning as it does every evening. If it was "I'm a celebrity get me out of here" we'd have been screaming "Ant or Dec get me outta herre!@!!!@! "

It was brilliant though. Villagers were really nice and what an experience with no electricity or running water. The two guides cooked for us and it was amazing. Very spicey but still very tastey. We stayed up till 12 (yeah early but it gets dark at like 7 o'clock here and we have to get up at 7:00 on treks). We drank and listened to stories about the tribe from Tarzan (not his real name of course, but they pick names that are easy to remember. Promise's Thai name is Sighh Aah, so his village name must be impossible to say!).

In the morning half the group split as some were only there for one night. Four of us, Brian, I and two girls, trekked on. The goal was a waterfall further up the mountain.

We stayed in Promise's Uncle's village for lunch, it also rained pretty heavy, and then headed on to the waterfall. Arrving at the waterfall it was amazing. The river looks exactly like Rambo 2 on the rocks , the scene when he shoots the guy with the arrow. There were lots of tourists but by 7:00, and dark, they had left. Promise cooked again and it was the best oriental food I've ever had. We chatted agina till we got tired, 9:00 this time! All the trekking, heat and early starts takes it out of you. We slept at the base of the waterfall just the 5 of us. I didn't get a wink, crashing water and heat do not equal to sound sleep.

The last day was elephant riding and white water rafting. Both were really fun. Although it monsooned on us as we were on the way in the back of an open top pickup truck going to the elephants. With ponchos we still got soaked, that's how hard it rains! We arrived back an hour ago with a ton of laundry. Head for Laos tomorrow, It is one of the poorest countries in the world and is a communist state. There may not be internet at all there so I'll post some pics in the morning to look at till we get to Vietnam. There'll also be new galleries added so have a look.

We head out tonight with the guides (we promised to buy them beer but they get locked on only a few beers so shouldn't cost much) and some the other backpackers.

Hope everyone is well, chat to ye soon!

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