Thank you Bob Mac... much appreciated... so, are you anywhere near phuket? As it so happens, I think that I may now stay in the Koh Samui area... I heard that they have more sun and less wind than phuket does this time of year... hmm... i may post another question about that... okay, so thanks for the info on volunteering... I've done a lot of it locally and thought it would be cool to incorporate it into my travel abroad. Since I can't do that, I'm thinking that just relaxing on the beaches at one of the cleansing spa's might be nice. There is one called the Natural Wing Health Spa and Resort.

I want to spend a couple of weeks at the beach and then fly up to Chiang Mai before heading back down to Bangkok.

I totally owe you a beer. Are any of these places near you? I don't mind a train ride for an hour or two because I'll only see more of the land.

I've travelled by myself through Ireland, England, Milan, Rome, Venice, and Paris and yes I'm traveling along again. I heard the Thai think this is strange and anti-social, but what can I say? I enjoy time to myself and my life back in the States is anything but...

Any other advice for a single woman traveling alone in these places?

Thanks again