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Published: January 27th 2011
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Just thought I should let you know what I have been up to these past couple of weeks. I went to Ko Samet for 3 days which is a very small island about 2 hours from Pattaya. I think I really needed the break because I did not do a great deal while I was there. On the second day I hired a motorbike and rode around the island checking out all the lovely bays. I found a little spot called Ao Thian which I promised myself if I come back I would stay there for a few days.
I then headed back to Pattaya, but this time I stayed in Jomtien, so it would be easier to hang out with Paul and his friends for their remaining 5 days. Most evenings we would end up in the bars for a few drinks and to play some pool. One day we hired a small speedboat and went to Ko Larn, an island just off the coast from Pattaya just for something different. We hired some motorbikes for an hour and had a look around the island, but most of the time was spent lounging in the beach chairs under the
umbrella observing all the Russian tourists.
I finally left Pattaya and headed back up to Bangkok for a couple of nights. I hung out with a Russian I met on the bus as well as an American that I met at breakfast the first day. On the second night we went to an observation deck on the 84th floor of Baiyok Sky. The deck was open air with great views of the city, and the admission price of $9 also included a free drink. After this we headed to a large bar district and drank to about 2am. One of the great things I did during the day was to go on the boat taxis down the narrow canals. These boats go pretty fast down these canals stopping every 500 meters or so to pick up passengers whilst dodging other boat taxis the other way. The ticket sellers stand on the outside of the boat with crash helmets on collecting money whilst the boats are motoring along. I thought the helmets were just a precaution just in case of a collision with another boat, but then I noticed the lady ticket collector crouching down to avoid the very low
bridges we passed.
I then headed up to Ayuthaya, a town of old temples about an hour and a half north of Bangkok. I felt so much better being away from the hectic life of Bangkok and Pattaya. There are about 15 sites dotted in and around the town dating back quite a few hundred years. I hired a bicycle for the day for $1.40 and had a pleasant time just taking photos and riding along the quiet streets. There are just a handful of tourists that stay in the town which gives it a very relaxed atmosphere. I am definitely considering staying another day or two to see a few of the temples I missed when I head back to Bangkok next week.
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