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Published: September 1st 2006
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Hanging out in Fugitiveville-
Greetings friends, relatives, and fellow travel bloggers from the Beachfront Bungalows at the
Whitesands in Ko Samui. People disappear here for 6 monthes
at a time, and with good reason. Obsconding costs as little (with food and lodging) as five
bucks a day- less if you make your own food.
I think I might have to in the near future- its as good as the guidebooks (and as resident
bungalow refugee Barry puts it- the eye candy is unbelievable)
I tell people my complexion is either white or red- Currently I am a bit of both- like a candy
cane or mint- (I'm sure that was what barry was talking about)
As of a few days in to Ko Samui (we spent a total of 7), Sam and I decided that we make up
the consumate male. That is if you cut off his bottom half and add my top half- perfection...
A list of quality attributes
Sam
-Butt Rash (2 days on bikes)
-Right Leg Thigh Rash (running)
-44 mosquito bites (or mocksito in
Typical transport
This is how I plan to transport my kids as well. Thai)
Ladies- I bring to the table
-Heat Rash of the Back
-Wicked Deodorant Reaction of the left arm pit
-splotcholy burned shoulders (with sunblock handprints)
Those are some of the positive aspects not so widely covered by photographers in tropical
areas.
These attributes I figure are also the leading cause of perpetual catcalls from the ladies at
night- (A welcome but equally ignored change from the T.A.T.)
The Golden Rule of Traveling In Thailand
This seems to be more and more (blatantly) obvious. Whereever the taxi-drivers- tourist
agents- and Italians tell you to go- Don't. (Ok maybe not the Italians- they however have
flooded Cha Weng beach)
Our more engaging experiences have been out of the suggested areas- partying with the
locals and regulars of Sunrise Bungalows (Stefan, Chappy, John Pierre. Noi, Nang et al)
We also spent a night at Emerald Bay which was absolutely deserted save the three local
fisherman (where the sunset shots are from.)
If you are planning on visiting Ko Samui
I would bypass Chaweng
Bungalow
start of the sweet shacks. altogether
(except for the inexplicably bizarre nightlife- compared to the states) As this beach yields
more tourists than scenery, and is overpriced and quite crowded.
Instead head for the south of
Lamai- (Whitesands costs 120baht a night) This area yields a plethora of regulars-
castaways and cutouts- and people that I'm pretty sure you could make intriquing 26.4
minute documentaries on. Rent motorscooters- they should cost no more than 150baht a day-
about 100 if you bargain well- and filling up is no more- We didn't find a better means of
discovering the island.
Things the relatives don't like to hear about
Swimming in the ocean during a middle of a lightning storm and monsoon (don't worry the
thunder was 8 counts away)
200k plus trek around the Island on motorscooters (2 days of solid 8 hour treks)- driving in
Thailand is no less than insanity compared to the U.S.
Goodbye Thailand
Hello Cambodia
Our next stop will be Cambodia. After an 18 hour trek back to Bangkok- (completed just now)
we will hopefully fly into Phenom Phen in about 5 hours. We have yet to book a ticket. After
that the temples of Angkor Wat- To give an impression of size that was given to us by some
Texans- it is roughly the width of Times Square and from 14th St to 86th St in NYC. I think the
going rate is a solid 3 days of tomb raiding. But seeing as we are Wonderland Vets- I think
we'll break the rate. If time and logistics yield- hopefully we'll move onto Vietnam.
Oh yes the notable stories early at khao sahn road (backpackers paradise)
I have devised a new tactic to silence the sales pitch and brochuring of the tuk tuk drivers
trying to herd us over to the offices of the TAT. When they ask where I'm going I tell them
the TAT. I tell them that I'm walking, and then after that I'm going to another TAT. Its a cruel
trick offering opportunity- but it works.
As we've noted there is an excess of women in Ko Samui. In Khao
San Road (Bangkok) It
seems to be only dudes and hookers. And as Sam puts it- even the lady hookers are dudes.
(Cat-toy- in thai- which means lady boy). The thai are fairly open about that- a nd the Cattoy
are fairly aggresive at Khao San as Sam experienced at 6am this morning. Great wake up
from an 18 hour trek-
Til next time in Cambodia
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Mom
non-member comment
too much fun
Everybody's having too much fun except maybe the frog. Wonderful pics, enjoying the commentary. Mom