We've made it off Koh Sumet!!

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Hey kids,

Well intrepid bloggers we have had one high octane finish to life on the island (Ko Samet) meeting some ladyboys (very damn convincing) called Cindy Anna and Narelle (Mark was immediately taken by Narelle - cos she/he loved footy naturally) With several nights back at our favourite haunt on the island where Andrew was dubbed no. 1 falang (foreigner) dancer by some Thai women. However methinks it was the buckets and the fact that all the tunes were on high rotation that led to such precision when 'cutting the rug'.

Complete with hair extensions Michelle has now aquired the name Sydney and flicks whoever comes her way with her bum length 'rope'. These provocative dance moves have led to the meeting of several gay guys one from Sydney and one from Canada who both stood awestruck as Michelle and Andrew attracted all the attention from the Thai gay and lady boy community however the relationships founded on the dance floor were purely platonic. Despite numerous attempts to set up said compatriots.

Well yes, it's true, we finally got of the debaucherous island of Koh Samet to arrive in Koh Chang for just one full day (2 nights though).

Isn't it ironic that this was the original destination of ours till everything went pear shaped? But it has been fun nonetheless.

Leaving Koh Sumet with a decent hangover and 2 hrs sleep, we travel by ferry to the mainland, then 'minibus' to Laem Ngop where we would meet the ferry for Koh Chang. It turned out the minibus was a) late and b) over booked, meaning that a preganat woman had to sit on the lap of her boyfriend till the couple secretly diod the dash to two saved seats and manged to travel in vague comfort. Eitehr way, too many people, but thanks to the only girl in the minibus that spoke Thai checked with the driver that this would not be the status quo for the entire 2 hours on the bus.

Yay! No, we're going to meet a proper sized coach and travel in style and comfort. Till of course we got to the coach (meanwhile we have been singing J Lo and Shakira the whole way - thanks Koh Sumet for your one and only CD - and quite content in the back seat of the minibus) to only find of course that the coach had been over booked, and that the pregnant woman was once again n her boyfriends lap till someone so courtesly offered to move.

Michelle M\met a great American girl (ALi) and Andrew had some insane man from Chile (Juniniho?? who had many tales to tell of his adventures in Burma and beyond) we then joined them on the massive ferry across to the island. Koh Chang is HUGE!!! It's a shame that we didn;t have time to explore it better, but in a nutshell, the roads are paved, there is a proper jungle and about 6 waterfalls on the island to go swimming at.

W we stayed at a place called TreeHouse at Lonely Beach last night. Really realy basic bungalows (as in literally a bed, and a mossie net, but had a hammock out the front and shared ammenities (not your aussie drop toilet, but your thai squat toilet with heaps or running water so no flies or smell really) Cheap as buggery (100 baht) so literally about $3 a night for the two of us, and the most beautiful shared verandah with hammocks and a heap or zenned out hippies. Very very chilled and relaxed. So chilled in fact that no one spoke a word unless really pushed to! The place was directly on the ocean front with the shared verandah overhanging over the rocks. Perfect place for sunsets, decent music (though admittedly, too much Bob Marley) and vegetarian food to die for.

It was the kind of place that you could chill out in your own space and not have to talk to others ifyou didn;t want to, and a whole week could go by without even having to leave it's grounds. Beautiful. Would love to come back here with Soph and Soph - I know you girls would love it.

Today saw us hire a motorbike (similar to the mopeds at schoolies not to mention some cool hard hats (army issue?)) and pretty much circumnavigate the island visiting a few waterfalls which were simply amazing. Swimming at both except one unintentionally (note to self in future heed signs that say the rocks are slippery)

Off to Koh Sumet briefly again tomorrow to hopefully pick up our emergency visa cards, then heading west for Katchinaburi to play with tigers and see the River Kwai etc.

love ya,
Nunny and Ricko.

Ps. Michelle finally has got hair extensions and braids half way down my back! Pretty exciting I have to say. Andrew now lovingly calls me 'rope head" but I like it. I feel like a mermaid 😉 and all the thai women love it!

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Comments

[Sam & Ben (ex Swan St extradionairre.)]

Great stuff kids!
Gday Andrew and Michelle Great write up Michelle aka nunny. Good to hear your having a good time. Keep the updates coming. Hows the weather? Gotta tell you, Swan St The Hill is now dead quite, and the old residents are loving it. Talk going around the joint (I saw Bob tonight) is that everyone is glad to see me go because the noise maker has left the building...yes, because clearly it was ALL ME! /Ben look sideways into camera. We will have to show send you some pics of our new fishtank too. Keep on keepon on! Stay safe. Warm regards Sam and Ben.

[Chopper]

Well Uncle Chop Chop spoke to Monty the other night as well, and is sure nothing of the kind was said. But maybe in truth, they might both miss yuz, a bit.

[soph p]

oh Ropey and Mark what an image I have in my mind. You sound like you are paving a fantastic reputation for all Aussies abroad. well done. Mt poo, I spent 10 days on Koh chang with Neil. It was pure Heaven. We had a bungalow ON the beach and spent most of the day lolling around in the bath temperature water and drinking refreshing tigers. We were right at the very end of the island (about half and hour away from the township) at a 'resort' that had one restaurant/bar/tv. Glorious. One minor mishap was when we hired a motorbike to tour the island and check out the beautiful waterfalls, was when we got off the bike, leant it against a tree (it had no stand) where the bike promptly smashed onto the ground. It was a test of my minimal thai to negotiate with a mechanic/grocer/pet shop owner to fix it. Ahhh fun and games.

[barney]

kanchanburi
Hey Ropehead and Richo. sounds like things are back on track. Michelle, we found out on friday that the Loft is one of 6 areas for "review" as part of cost saving. spoke to the young people on friday arvo. i explained the situation to them that the process was now in the hands of the Councillors. They were highly motivated. Petitions. delegations to see Councillors. organising as many people as possible to come to the Council meeting on 15 August. I of course am unable to participate or even suggest possible strategies. i can only answer their questions. But by gee they've had some great questions. :) Enjoy Kachanburi. It was a highglight of our stay. Barney

[ellie]

rope head
hehehe. rope head. i have taken great pleasure in laughin at that for the past five minutes - and telling kurt who, of course, didn't find anything vaguely amusing about it. love yer guts, sounds like you're having a rad old time. xxx