Thailand gig raises a million

Thailand animal welfare charity PAWS, whose recent annual fundraiser in Phuket was headlined by The Lightyears, have announced that this year’s event raised a record THB 1 million. Plans are already afoot for the band to return to Thailand in 2008. Watch this space for updates…!

A Truly Legendary Breakfast

Saturday 13 October, 9.30pm (PAWS Party, Laguna Hotel, Thailand): Tonight’s show is the biggest gig of the tour – a headline slot at the annual fundraiser for local charity PAWS (Phuket Animal Welfare Society). There are around 300 people in the crowd this evening and they’re all up for a big one. The dancefloor is heaving and, weaving in and out of the boogying revellers, there’s a chap with an enormous camera who turns out to be here from Channel 11 – which means clips from the gig will ...

400 ladyboys… and us.

Thursday 11 October, 4.15am (McDonalds Restaurant, Patong, Thailand): We are sitting in McDonalds. Eating burgers. In Thailand. “Tourists!” I hear you cry. But allow me to explain how we got here. We played a gig tonight at The Green Man in Muang. Word had obviously spread since we announced the show two days ago and the place turned out to be almost full. Because we were using another band’s gear there were a few restrictions – Tony had to sit down at the drums, at the back of the stage, and I ...

There’s no excuse for Celine Dion

Tuesday 9 October, 9.15pm (Bang-Mud Restaurant, Phuket, Thailand): The food in this country is stunning. Words don’t adequately describe it, to be honest, but… well… let’s just say that it’s putting “Ladies Eat Free” night at Abra-kebabra into serious perspective. Tony just ordered a groupa fish for his dinner, and shortly afterwards a chef appeared on the little jetty beside the restaurant, hoisted said fish out of the water and disappeared back into the kitchen. 15 minutes later the creature was lying on a plate in front of us, steaming away. ...

The Ultimate Paradise

Sunday 7 October, 6pm (Poolside, Phuket, Thailand): I am reclining on a sun lounger beside a lagoon-like pool, flanked by coconut trees and rich, exotic vegetation, watching the early evening sun set exquisitely over the Bay Of Bengal. It is nearing the close of our first day here and it has already become clear to me that our Lonely Planet guide to Thailand isn’t exaggerating when it calls Phuket “the ultimate paradise”. And coming from someone who has actually been to the Coral Reef Leisure Centre in Bracknell, that’s ...