When you get there, if you have the time, you should visit Tortoise Village - 50 km south of Khon Kaen in Mancha Khiri District, approximately 2,000 tortoises reside in the main 4 rai Shrine and the surrounding area. Most villagers do not have walls or fences to impede the touroises daily ritual of scavenging for food.
I will definately try to go there. The Tortoise Village sounds amazing! I think that I am going to set up a 4 day diving trip to Phuket as well. I hear things are pretty cheap in Thailand.