Thailand may be known for its hot and sticky climate, but when we arrived in Baan Gerda in the middle of January it was the cool season. This brief period of cool weather is a welcome break from the oppressive heat during the rest of the year. It's also a few degrees cooler than the filthy air in Bangkok. It's hard to describe the pleasure in not having to sleep with either the air con or a fan.

Alas, it doesn't last very long and the mercury has already begun it's ascent to the 40C mark.