Same-same but different

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One of the strangest but most common phrases you will hear in Thailand is "same-same, but different." It sort of means that you are doing something similar, but not quite. I think. It's sort of hard to say what anyone in Thailand actually means when they speak to you. Their english is fair, but their comprehension is low. There is a lot of smiling and nodding and somehow everything works out, but not always the way you expect. But still, this is a place for vacation, so you just sort of take it all in stride and enjoy.

Pai is truly a place to do nothing. Everything is here (including a pretty good cheeseburger and fries if you want one), and if your desire is to get a massage, get a great meal, soak in the hot springs or go for a hike or elephant ride, then there are plenty of opportunities for that. But mostly, this is the kind of place where sitting around and drinking tea (or beer) and visiting with fellow travellers is the thing to do. But all good things must eventually come to an end, or at least a change, so tomorrow we're off to the Southern end of this country for a week of diving at beautiful Ko Tao island.

. Ko Tao means "turtle." The island looks like a giant sea turtle sticking its head in the water, and that's how it gets its name. It's also one of the top dive destinations in the whole world, with exciting coral reefs and abundant sea life. It's not unusual to catch a glimpse of the giant sea turtles for whom the island is name, or even the occassional whale shark in these waters. We'll send lots of photos of that adventure.

In the meantime, it will take us a couple of days to get there. Travel, like everything else in this country, is taken at a relaxing pace. No hurries, no stress, no worries. We'll take the stomach churning 3 hour ride back over the mountains to Chang Mai tomorrow, then catch the overnight train to Bangkok. We'll arrive there on the 26th, and spend about ten hours waiting for the next overnight train to Chumphon. From there we'll catch a morning ferry to Ko Tao.

As promised though, before we leave Pai, here's a couple of photos of our new tattoos. We'll have just enough time for them to heal before we hit the ocean. These were done by a local artist named Salha, is a genius with a needle gun. I've never seen suck detailed, intricate shading or realistic imagery. He's a master. (and extremely cheap compared to what these would have cost in the states). I think he's a good excuse for regular return trips to Pai. Tricia's tattoo is the prettiest, and Greg's is a cover-up. Wendy got an incredible tattoo of an elephant above a lotus flower, but we didn't get a photo of that.

Tricia's tattoo:



Greg's tattoo:


See you all in Ko Tao in a few days.
Greg and Tricia

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Comments

[Dee]

Great tattoos
Sounds like you are both having a great time. I love the new tattoos. We got to swim with a sea turtle when we were in Hawaii a couple of years ago. It was magnificent. So large and graceful. Solstice blessings to both of you, Dee

[Dawn]

I love reading about your adventures. Tricia, that is one hell of a tattoo. I think the lizard is looking at me!