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Published: September 4th 2006
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Hi all
Well had a good week in Ko Samet mainly sunbathing and spending loads of time in the sea as very hot. We arrived on the Monday and we were there until Saturday which was about long enough as although a very beautiful island there was not a lot to do which was a bit disappointing. During the days we mainly stayed on the beach as there was a lovely breeze and the sea was very clear and warm so heaven! On Tuesday they had organised a boat trip for us around Ko Samet which was great and we stopped at 2 places to snorkel. The boat had a top deck with deckchairs attached which was quite a good idea although did not feel that safe when the boat moved from side to side. In the evenings there were a few bars to visit but nothing like Ko Pha Ngan, plus our rooms were pretty small so only wanted to be in them just for sleeping. It was nice to have a bit of variety in the food for a change as we were all craving something other than rice and veg although as the week went on the
majority of the group became ill with stomach upsets and vomiting which was not too pleasant. We had to complain to our co ordinator as we think it must of been the food as not always particularly warm and seemed to of been sitting round along time some nights. Anyway luckily for me I escaped being ill thank god as was not nice what the others were going through and I think it put them off ever returning to Ko Samet. It is not the cleanest island I have ever been too, they have no proper water supply so it gets shipped over and when it comes through the taps it is a lovely yellow colour.
Anyway it was not such a good week for some but we did all manage to top up our tans even more. On the Saturday the coach took us to Bangkok as most of the group where flying back as only doing the 4 week programme, we could then be taken onto the Eco house the 5 of us left. However myself and Roma decided to stay in Bangkok on the Saturday night as not a lot to do at the eco house
and we could then say goodbye to all the others who were going over the course of the weekend. Spent the afternoon back down Koh San Road which is fatal as spent more money on clothes which I don't need and have no room for and then we all had a Subway for dinner (you would understand if you had been eating Thai food for 6 weeks). It was quite a sad weekend as had to say bye to everyone and we had all become very close in the 4 weeks. Spending all day everyday with each other away from home you soon become close and we all acted as each others surrogate families and friends so quite a tearful event for alot of people. Hopefully we will all meet up again although harder for me as travelling on for the next few months.
Roma and I then got the bus back to Singburi where we were moving to the Brown House which is a bit along from the Lemon House. Had the funniest bus journey of my life from Bangkok to Singburi, it took 2 hours and Roma managed to get a nutter sitting next to her. This
lady looked completely sane at first but then started showing her mobile to Roma (which had nothing on it) and chatting away in Thai whilst flinging her arms around, she would then burst into tears approx every 15 mins and then be fine the next minute chatting away again. I was sitting on the other side of the bus and could see Roma's horrified face and her trying to ignore this lady and I had to bury my head in my book to hide my fits of laughter and the tears pouring down my face. The crazy lady then tried to follow us once we got off the bus so we made a run for it and managed to lose her, she seemed quite harmless just nuts.
We arrived at the Brown House which is almost the same as the Lemon House but unfortunately there is not internet there or no bar (very worried about this), so we have to get a co ordinator to take us to the Lemon House which is about 15 minutes drive away when we need to e:mail. Along with the 5 of us who are left doing the final 4 weeks another group
of about 15 have arrived who are doing the first 4 weeks so it means that there are still quite a group of us around in the evenings which is good. The best bit is that there are only 4 of us in one bedroom which can sleep 10 so we actually have spare beds to unpack onto and floor space to move around - it's like luxury!
Today is Monday and we were taken to the Orphanage where we shall be spending the next 2 weeks (we go to another for the final 2 weeks). It is not actually an Orpanage as such more of a boarding school for poor children. In the North of Thailand there are alot of Hill Tribes and between the ages of 6 - 16 these children are sent away from their families to these government funded schools where they get an education. Alot of the children who arrive can not even speak Thai as many of the Hill Tribes have their own langugage so the children are sent here to learn to give them a chance of getting jobs when they are older. They stay at the school for most of the
year and go home for a holiday for a couple months once a year. The school has 400 kids which is huge as not a big place. We just had a show round today and start working there tomorrow where we shall be doing a mixture of teaching and carrying out any improvements we can to improve their standard of living. The main school seems okay (by Thai standards) but the living conditions are disgusting, I would'nt let an animal sleep where they have too. Basically loads of children are in one room and sleep on the floor with just a mat to put down, the only belongings they seem to have are some clothes and these are just hung anywhere. The rooms stink and there are no personal items at all, so we think we may try and do something to brighten the bedrooms up. I had a picture of the film Annie and the dormatories they slept in, in my head before I came but this is actually a lot worse as they don't even have beds! However the kids all look well looked after and healthy and seem happy and we have been told this is how
it is in Thailand and they know no different so their quite happy. When we start there properly tomorrow we should find out more about their way of life and get a better insight into it. Anyway times running out so will give you more info when next write, can not put any pictures on for the moment as computer I am using does not have the correct connection.
Hope you are all well and those of you who have not e:mailed for a while please do with any gossip (you know who you are). It could be a long 4 weeks although hopefully once we get into it, it will be fun.
Bye for now.
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