Blogs from Ko Pha-Ngan, South-West Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 122

We can really say we feel like a proper travellers now. We can now join in all the conversations about awful transportation, rip off merchants and nightmare journeys. It's great to be on the road though. Well after an awful journey from Ko Lanta to Kho Phangan we arrived. We left Lanta at 7am and got to Phangan at 7:30pm. (And it's really not that far!!!) Then it was a nice little tour of Haad Rin (home of the full moon party!!) to try and find some accommodation. The Rough Guide came up trumps and we got a hut on a lovely little beach called Leela beach. (Leela Beach Bungalows - 400 bht) The hut was grimy, but we're poor so it had to do. All the accommodation prices double or triple leading up to the ... read more

KO PHANGNAN Steve and I arrived in Ko Phangnan last Tuesday in anticipation of the full moon part on the night of the 14th. Ko Phangnan is much less developed then Ko Samui, our previous destination. Had Rin Beach, the area where we stayed, caters exclusively to backpackers. I'd guess the average age is 20 and and everyone's there to bask in the sun and party at night. Steve and I arrived on the island early enough to get good accommodations. Our hut overlooked the beach and was ideally located a short distance from the nightlife. A typical day at Hat Rin Beach consists of... you guessed it... sun bathing. When the sun goes down everyone retires for a few hours to grab something to eat at the countless restaurants a block inland. Each restaurant displays ... read more

Upon our arrival at the station, we were told by the attendant standing directly in front of the window, that there were no sleeper seats on the train south to Surat Thani. He said, “Would all of these people be waiting around if there were?” (as he pointed to the crowd laying about the station.) Dana’s ADD kicked in at this moment, and said to ask the person with the computer at the counter. That made sense to me, and sure enough there were exactly three seats for the train heading south. Usually you have to book sleeper trains in advance. Without hesitation we booked the train leaving in one hour for the southern route. We dragged our gear to the train, buying some beers just outside the car. Unfortunately, they were selling food and beverages ... read more

************************Happy New Year!!!***************************** I flew in from Hanoi to Bangkok on the 27th December to meet up with friends from back home. Marianne arrived on the 28th and Claire arrived on the 29th. On the night Marianne arrived we went out drinking on Ko San Road and met some, erm, interesting people including a mad mad irishman and a Gwen Stefanni lookalike from Norway who was convinced the undercover cops were after her.... The two of them together was comedy genius, i'd pay to see that again. Then, just when I didn't think things could get more surreal Claire arrived and we ended up in a bitch fight with some ladyboys over a game of pool and walked home soaking wet up Ko San Road at 8AM after playing "Flip Flop water polo" with some Dutch ... read more

What do you mean thats a 1" After two weeks of hell in the Captains Corner sub zero tempreture pool we were all given the title of Divemasters. Gaz, Fus, Ben, Jim, Dean, Phil, Mike and myself all passed our snorkel challenge!!! The course consisted of lots of theory and exams but the skills and care of customers and students was focused on greatly. The experience of the course was mostly theory but dependent on what you had done previously made it easier or harder but now we can all actively participate in all the courses Divemaster's can supervise and conduct independently or with Instructors. The days were spent in the classroom mostly with some days on the boats but the classroom was essential for us to develop lots of knowledge on decompression theory, physics, equipment ... read more