August 8:

OFF TO THAILAND... This morning we left on the flight to Thailand... the only part of our trip that is business class... for a whole 55 minutes! We arrived safely and after an uneventful taxi ride to the center of Bangkok, we are checked into our plush $41 per night hotel. On the 9th, my birthday, we head back to the airport to fly down to Krabi where we will make our way to paradise... RAILEY BEACH. With any luck I will be able to give you an update once I arrive in Railey.

Take care and enjoy life one day at a time... we both are!

love,
Stephen

August 9:

Hi,

Thank you for the sweet messages...

I have no time to write today, but I am in Railey (near Krabi on the SW Thailand peninsula-see map below), have my old room back (nothing but the best) and everything is still PARADISE HERE.

I love you,
Stephen

August 11:

Unfortuntately I spent my B-Day night in bed with a tummy ache, awww, poor Stephen ... Well, at least I can imagine all the pity I am getting while here in paradise. I climbed today for the first time. IT WAS GREAT. Anh and I climbed with my two other friends here.

Life is good and I miss you all.

love,
Stephen

August 18:

We decided to stay longer in Railay so we will only have one night in Singapore. I have contacted our cousins and will be calling them once we get into Singapore.

Life is well over here. I have been climbing, we have been relaxing, and the weather has been good (providing it is rainy season).

The other day I did a climbing marathon with a German friend I met here last year. We started at 4am with the intention of hitting 24 different walls located around Railey. It is important to note that many of these walls are separated by jungle or beach or water that can only be reached at low or high tide. After our first climb in the pitch dark with headlamps, we continued the whole day until 8pm finishing the last 3 climbs in the pitch dark with headlamps. 16 hours of walking and climbing gave us a total of 19 climbs... 2 days later, I still ache all over. However, we were very safe and had no injuries at all! What an experience.

Love,
Stephen