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Published: August 25th 2008
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Hello from Thailand! I'm currently writing from an internet cafe in a place called Nong Kai which is in the north bordering Laos. We're off to Laos and regretfully saying goodbye to Thailand in a couple of days. We've had lots of fun here and travelled around a fair amount although we haven't seen alot still! Our first few days were spent in Bangkok, mainly around the touristic hot spots of Khao San Road and Pat Pong where we saw a Ping Pong show. Now, because my grandma reads this blog i am not going to describe in detail what a ping pong show is in Bangkok but lets just say it doesn't involve rackets and a table. If you're curious, google it. Anyway, we also hit quite a few bars with a wicked couple we met called Mon and Jo and generally ate too much cheap pad thai from the street stalls and drunk lots of buckets (a bottle of whiskey, red bull and coke for all of 3 quid served in a bucket with a bundle of straws)...we did do a couple of cultural things though- i went to Chinatown where they sell every type of useless object imagineable
and we went to the Ko Ratanakosin Area which consists of lots of Wat's (temples) and the Grand Palace which was very beautiful and ornate. I also ate a fried cricket which was suprisingly tasty.
After seeing my old school friend Rubika one evening with her family as they were in Bangkok briefly (and it was so nice to see you!!) Helen and I made our way down to the islands off the gulf coast to make it for the legendary full moon party. We stayed on Hat Rin Nok beach on the island Ko Phan-ngan which is where all the action happens and the music blasts out from the speakers every single night so let's just say we didn't see much of the daytime and didn't get much sunbathing in as we were sleeping through the day. We stayed in this hut at the top of a hill and to get to it there was an electric lift/ladder thing that literally went about 5mph. It was an experience. The full moon party itself was great fun. Basically sound systems blast out different types of music (somewhat commercial but some good dance music) all along the beach. It did
eventually get really messy though as people were doing all sorts in the water (again, my granny reads this so i won't elaborate) and generally the beach looked a bit worse for wear. However, the after party was in a stunning location and looked over the clear blue water and white sandy beaches around the island and we partied there until 12. Hardcore!!
After the craziness and touristic-ness of Ko Phan-ngan (it was an island full of Brits and Irish mainly!) we went to Ko Tao which is another island further north. Ko Tao was beautiful and we had a hut right on the sea with the rocks below. We stayed on the south of the island away from the main beach as we wanted some chill time. I went snorkelling and saw more marine life doing that than diving in Vietnam- it really was beautiful. I spent alot of time in a hammock and in a Rasta bar. (I did get a few dreadlocks in Bangkok but am too chicken to get the whole head done!!) Helen even got a bamboo tattoo which looks beautiful.
We didn't want to leave Ko Tao but had to make it
up through the mainland if we wanted to see Laos and Cambodia so we tore ourselves away from the translucent water, white sand and palm trees and headed up the mainland via Bangkok to a place called Pak Chong. The North Eastern part of Thailand is off the tourist trail as everybody tends to head to Chang Mai in the North West but we decided to miss that one out due to time. Instead we went to Khao Yai National Park and saw gibbons, scorpions, some scary monkey who got up on it's haunches and started running towards our open backed van because someone offered it a yoghurt pot (scared the crap out of me and thank god it stopped) and a yellow snake. We did a little trek through the jungle and got quite muddy and had to wear some sexy leech socks as it's the monsoon season up here so they're out in full swing. After a couple of nights in Pak Chong and one night in Nakon Ratchasima which is the second biggest city in Thailand we took a 3rd class 7 hour train journey to where we are now. The journey, i couldnt believe, cost just
under 1 pound. I thought, like India, we may be on the luggage rack or amongst chickens but it was absolutely fine as the windows were wide open and the seats were not benches- they had padding! 7 hours for 1 pound- The UK needs to sort its train fares out i say!!!
Anyway, i will check in again soon. Thailand is definately a country i want to re-visit one day as there's so much we haven't covered.
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Katie Mallinder
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WoW!
WoW! Emma, it all looks so amazing.. although, not sure I would have liked the ping pong show... Do keep writing lots, as we love to hear from you, and you can read it in later years and look back... Love to Helen, Jealous, from Southampton. :) x x x