It's about six days until I take off for Thailand. If you're not sure where Thailand is (yes Adam, Thailand is different to Taiwan :) then please consult the maps attached.

I've got a bit of a plan sorted out as to where I'm going to go in Thailand. I'm sure it will change as I travel around, but at the moment, it goes like this:

Stage 1 - North Route - Bangkok to Chiang Rai

• Melbourne to Bangkok by plane, then straight from Don Muang airport to Don Muang railway station to catch a train to Ayuthaya. Luckily I've still got some Baht left from last time I was in Thailand, so I won't need to use an airport currency exchange booth.
• Stop in Ayuthaya for two nights, and explore the ruins of the ancient capital.
• Take the train north to Phitsanulok, then try to find a bus west to Sukhothai, another ancient capital, one that predates Ayuthaya.
• Find a bus from Sukhothai further west, through the city of Tak to Mae Sot which is about 6 kilometres from the border with Burma (Myanmar)
• Another bus, north-east to Chiang Mai.
• Bus from Chiang Mai to Chaing Rai by bus, and via a boat down the kok river.
• Another bus from Chiang Rai directly back to Chiang Mai

Stage 2 - South Route - Chiang Rai to Hat Yai

• My southbound leg will begin with a 2nd class berth on the night-train from Chiang Mai back to Krung-tep (Bangkok)
• I'll probably stop at a few places along the train line along the peninsula between Bangkok and Hat Yai, but I'm not sure where yet.
• Check out Hat Yai for a day or two. In Thai, Hat means beach, and Yai means big. Therefore, the name of this city literally translated is "Big Beach". I will attempt to ascertain if this name is deserved.

Stage 3 - Beach Route - Hat Yai, Trang, Krabi, Phuket, Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan

• Bus to west Trang. Stop here for a day or two.
• Bus to north Krabi. Stop here for a day or two.
• Bus to somewhere on Ao Pha Ngan (the bay to the east of Phuket. I'll probably stop here for a few days.
• Bus to Phuket. I got the impression that this island was a total tourist mecca, but apparenty it is still worth visiting, especially the northern region where there's not so much development. I'm not sure how long I'll stay here.
• Bus to Surat Thani, and then a ferry on to Ko Samui. I probably won't stop here too long. It's really just a step on my way to Ko Pha Ngan.
• Ferry onto Ko Pha Ngan. I'll try to time my stay here to co-incide with the full moon party.
• Ferry back to mainland...

Well, that's all I've figured out so far. Like I said, I'm sure it will change.