I'm heading back to Asia today! Have managed to fit heaps in despite the short time I was in the country.

I saw Gem in London, and also met up with the crazies in Brighton where we went for a nice Chinese meal. I also caught up with Mat in Brighton as well as getting heaps of shopping done. On the Thursday we headed up north, got some pub grub then went to my grans funeral before driving back down that evening - glad I was able to make it back for it. On Friday I went to Avebury with the family then went out for dinner with Jen in the evening - dinner included treacle sponge with custard!!!!! Finally yesterday I met up with Nina in Swindon. After going for lunch we were hard pushed to find much else to do to entertain ourselves but it was nice to see her. It almost wasn't possible but thankfully we managed to make it happen in the end.

Some pics

On the way to Heathrow today we are stopping in to visit some family as my flight isn't until 10 tonight. Joys of an overnight flight again. I arrive in BKK tomorrow afternoon and I've found a palce to stay for the night then I'm heading to somewhere, I've just not decided exactly where yet. I thought about Koh Samet but now I'm thinking maybe a place called Cha-am as its less touristy therefore less expensive and home to fewer drunken tourists. We'll see what happens tho. Who knows where I'll end up!

I'm home! And I'm wearing a big sweater and slippers in a bid to be warm! Its hard to decide whats worse - being cold in MAY or sweating within minutes of leaving the house back in Hanoi. Both suck! I want nice mild British weather - not too hot, not too cold, and NO RAIN! I thought I'd escaped the monsoons but as I was waiting at Reading station it was raining very much like Hanoi rain.

I'm glad I got that hotel room yesterday. It was nice to be able to sleep and chill out before my flight. Although the view from the hotel was rather uninspiring -

- the place was nice enough. I wouldn't choose to stay there if I was staying in BKK but it was convenient for the airport - far enough away to not be right under the flight path but easy to get to and from without getting caught in traffic. It was quite quiet too!

There was a road near the hotel with a bunch of places to eat and some shops, plus a temple across the river -

so I managed to kill time in the area.

The flight wasn't too bad as there was an empty seat next to me so I had some space! I was originally gonna be stuck in a middle seat but when I checked in I asked for an aisle seat so when I got to the gate I got given a new seat! It was nice to have a bit of extra space rather than being stuck in between two people. Am hoping that the same happens on the return flight next week.