Dear Dad, I'm going all Bruce Parry

I just found myself sending my dad this email...

After careful consideration I have decided NOT to do the Intrepid trip. There seemed like there was just one too many obsticles being put in my way - after the expensive flight into Cambodia I then discovered that I'd been to pre-arrange a Vietnam visa, which I don't really have time to do without major hassle. To be honest now I'm on the road, I realy don't think it owuld be that hard to make it there under my own steam and I didn't like the idea of trying to get somewhere for a particular day at the expense of cutting short my time in Loas - which I really want to explore. I'm quite enjoying just pleasing myself and deciding when it's time to move on. In the case of Pai its tomorrow - it's a bit touristy here, with lots of teenage backpackers just looking for the next party. I have managed to find some cool people amongst all of that, and even teach a yoga class but there really isn't much to do here unless you want to zoom about on a moped and glare at hillstribe people, which I don't.

Anyhoo, to cut a long story short just when I thought I was lost and had no idea what to do next a friend messaged me, we got chatting and she recommended a thai massage course that combines yoga and vipassana meditation, which is conducted in the tribal village of Lahu, where you live for the duration of the 12 day course. A couple of emails and a phone call later and I'm booked onto the next course starting on the 16th with a very accomplished teacher.

It feels like the thing I've been waiting for - combing the 3 things I've been thinking about lately and trying to chose between. Plus, it will be something different. I'm totally over the tourist trail and just want to go somewhere that isn't featured in the damn Lonely Planet.

So for the next 5 days I'm going to hang around Chaign Rai - and there is a chinese village not far outside of the city where you can go horse trekking, which I fancy.

Then I'll be living in a hut (probably with pigs), meditating, doing yoga and learning massage.

The link to the website is here: http://www.thaiyogamassage.infothai.com/

After that the intention will remain to head to Loas and Cambodia - then I'm undecided about after that. maybe Bali, but maybe Burma. I don't know! What's the point in planning, when your plans tend to turn on a sixpence.

So thats it. I'm going native. I'll call you before you go.

Mucho love. xxx