After a day at the Secret Garden we shifted over to the West side of town to the Rachamankha hotel. This is an amazing zen inspired hotel. Rooms surround large courtyards which lead onto each other with wonderful symnetries. Everything about the hotel is elegant. It even has a library where you can read and sip free brandy. The west side of town is very lively. There are many small shops, attractive waterways, lots of small markets, restaurants and guest houses. The temples are often set in quiet park like areas which encourage contemplation.

All four of us went on a Thai cookery course. John excelling us all with his "sexy soup". We were taught by a really enthusiastic young Thai women who took us to the street markets to show us what to buy eg choosing from 10 different types of rice. Ingredients bought we then cooked a 7 couurse meal which saw us through lunch and dinner that evening.

Sadly we parted with Sue and John at the Rachamankha. They had to return to Phuket to meet some new guests, and we continued on our travels Northwards to the Burmese border and the Golden triangle.