Blogs from Southern Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 26

Just a typical day in Koh Tao. Wake up to a view of the beach (don't even have to turn my head). Do some stretches on balcony. Wander out onto the beach and find a spot that looks good for coffee and breakfast. There are plenty to choose from, all with outdoor balconies that meet the beach, low tables and mats to sit on. Generally, by the end of most meals I eventually seem to end up in a horizontal position, as the mats are more like beds and conducive to doing a full-body stretch when the meal is over. After breakfast, relocate lounging from restaurant balcony to poolside. Alternate swim-recline-swim-recline other side-swim-read a bit-swim-listen to music and chitchat-swim-order fruit smoothie-swim-get some food-swim-go get a massage on the beach-and so on. Oh, where has the day ... read more

Well here I am, only two days into the trip and already some good stories to tell. Here's what my first hour in Thailand was like: As I left the airport in Koh Samui, there was a friendly face greeting me with a sign for "Jungle Club". I got in the car with him, chit-chat was minimal due to my lack of knowledge or understanding of the Thai language beyond "Kaw Pun Kai" and "Sawadee Ka". We did manage to clear up the misunderstanding that we'd been having over email about how Jason and I were arriving on separate flights, what a big relief (although not at all relevant to this story). We drove about ten minutes, and then made a turn towards the hills. I was told to get out of the car and into ... read more

I booked an overnight air conditioned bus to Ko Phanagn through a fixer called Jimmy (as he kept proudly exclaiming like 'Jimmellfixit' - and yes he had a sign with it spelt like that!) at the Veng Thai Hotel bless him he was very enthusiastic and sorted out all the arrangements, 800bht for coach and boat. I even got walked to the check in point and then onto the bus! Was slightly dubious about an 8 hour coach ride overnight with a load of strangers - still very green to the traveling thing and still over suspicious of everyone! Got my pac-safe on my bag.... only person with one on ... clever or a geek?? got several people saying that was an awesome idea though and did i get it in bangkok... unfortunately not, (thanks Tad ... read more

After a 2 hour ferry ride, a 30 minute "super-sized" tuk tuk transfer trip with 25 people with their 15 kg backpacks smashed like sardines along two wooden benches, a 4 hour bus ride, and 12 hour overnight trained crammed in our "1st class" 5 X8 cell, we got to Bangkok, Thailand. Off to bargaining with the taxi drivers from 600 Baht to a 350 baht ride from the train station to BKK airport(we saved 10 USD!...lol). Next, after a 4 1/2 half hour excitedly exploring and enjoying the luxurious facilities at the BKK airport, we were off to catch our flight to beautiful Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Whew. We hope Chiang Mai is truly beautiful. ... read more

Songai Kolok, 13-02-2009, nighttime. Lord Buddha is supposed to frown on prostitution while rumour has it that Allah Himself forbits the public s*x trade nor is any of these two holy dieties especially keen on the consumption of King Alcohol. Maybe Songai Kolok might excist in a state of limbo, has been turned a blind eye to by either Lord Buddha or Allah or morer likely by both. At least both these holy entities can agree on one thing!!! It is close to midnight and I have placed by white Farang behind on an old sofa in the lobby of my hotel, sketchbook and acrylic colors close at hand, watching both the going-ons in my hotel as well as the spectacle outside where once pious young malay men have by now become semi-professional drunks being approached ... read more