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Published: January 1st 2012
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Holy Cow 1
st January 2012.
Koh Samui – The final week here.
Christmas seems so long ago now even though it’s just a week. Since Emma and Mike left us on the 29
th for their trip to Bangkok then home we have both had pretty lazy time of it.
Thankfully the weather perked up a bit and gave us 4/5 days of sunshine which was great for the beach and cemented the tan nicely.
Friday morning was spent booking our transfers to Bangkok on the 2
nd Jan. This involves a pick up from the guest house to the ferry, a 1 ½ on the water then all aboard a VIP coach for the overnight trip up to Bangkok. Managed to get this for £14.00 each which is £70.00 cheaper ea than flying, when your saving money you have to make these sacrifices!. Rest of Friday was a beach day. We quickly cottoned on to the fact that to enjoy the facilities of the plush beach side hotels you don’t have to be a resident. We had quickly found a favourite spot on the sand just on the boundary of a particuly
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Rough old Biker nice place where after a cooling dip in the sea you could casually wander into their pool and Jacuzzi complex and rinse all that horrible salt off, all for free. Nobody seemed to mind and i don’t suspect for one moment we were the only ones taking advantage.
Yesterday, Saturday was a little cloudy so we hired another trusty moped and took to the hills in the centre of the island. Our route was planned and we took off from Chaweng along the coast road to Lamai, from here we cut up into the hills in the hope of reaching the highest point on the island, some 700mts. After winding our way up some narrow tracks taking us through banana plantations and passing the odd sacred cow here and there we eventually landed in what my map reading told me was the opposite side of the island. Not so, we had after an hour or so of riding ended up approx 5 kilometres from Chaweng at a place called Mar Nam. Not deterred, just confused we pushed on along the coast road, actually the only road of any note and soon found ourselves on the other side
at Nathon. This is the town where the mainland ferries arrive / depart.
After a stop for water and an aborted attempt at seeing a waterfall, involved a 2 kilometre walk up a steep hill! we made tracks again for the mountain. This time we successfully found it, having though to first manoeuvre carefully past mud slides, road collapses and along some uneven surfaces. Off roading on a Moped is quite a challenge i can ashore you. On the way up we stopped at a small cafe hoping for a coffee break only to find it closed and the only resident at home being an enormous spider which even i was a little cautious of. It was easily as big as your palm and probably of the man eating variety, after taken some pics from a distance we left it in piece to hunt its next tourist.
At last we found our destination and a coffee at the suitably named Peak High View Restaurant. 20 mins rest and more pics we then headed of in search of another waterfall. We picked up the directional signs ok and followed and followed, uphill down dale. By
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So near yet so far this time there was no road just a track with ruts as deep as the front wheel of the moped. On we went, deeper and deeper into the banana tree forest passing on the way a group of lads playing volley ball in the middle of nowhere, strange. Finally we came to a stop at the top of a 1 in 3 hill and made our way from there on foot. 600 yards it said so near yet so far. 600 yards later the next sign said 300yrds, not far i know but take into account the humidity and the 600 yards 1 in 3 hill to climb back we aborted the mission as a step too far. Back on the bike again and retraced our tracks emerging eventually at a mountain top village shop where essential supplies were bought to see us through the journey.
After a couple of attempts to find the right track we set of at down the mountain heading for Bang Kao on the S. Coast.
About a third of the way down, and still at about 600mts we passed a sign directing passersby to the Mountain Grand view
point. Not to miss a photo opportunity on went the brakes and we found ourselves at a little piece of paradise. This was not just a view point but also a very nice restaurant with the viewing area set behind it.
Well, after another coffee and a cheeky banana pancake we made our way round the footpath to the viewing area and found a wonderfully designed patio / sun deck plus an infinity pool with staggering views down the mountain to Taling Ngam and Five Islands Beach. A little slice of heaven on a hill side. I must say after witnessing for the past month the dishevelled and chaotic way the Thai people build and construct things this really did take my breath away. Whoever designed and built this gem deserves every success.
We probably spent a further hour taking pictures and watching the changing light as the hazy sun dipped behind the clouds. I do hope the photo’s do it justice.
With the light now fading we hit the road again, witnessing, as we left the resident restaurant dog scrabbling about in the flower border finally proudly producing a 3’
Snake which it played with around the yard. Time for a sharp exit as this Snake was being thrown in our direction, a little close for my comfort.
We made it to the coast road gain and completed our island circumnavigation in one piece arriving back in Chaweng at dusk.
With six hours to go before seeing in the new year we allowed an hour or so for a sleep before nipping out for alcohol supplies with which to make our travellers sh*t mix buckets with. These consist of a one litre bucket with the contents being 3 parts Cola, 1 part Thai Red Bull and an extremely large dose of San Sung Whisky, the local brew topped up with ice.
A quick bite to eat and a few Chang chasers at 21.00 and we were fit and ready to party. This must sound like we’re a couple of students!
I must add that during the days and nights leading up to the New Year many many fireworks were being made, sold and let of randomly all over the place, so 2 hours before midnight the place was
buzzing.
On the beach every hotel had a party, there were people everywhere, most with a collection of extremely large rockets or mortar shells under their arm all ready to stick them in the sand and let them off.
We settled down in our usual spot pinching a couple of hotel loungers, set the camera’s up and drank our buckets. There was still an hour to go and the place was like a war zone with explosions everywhere around us. A little unnerving at times especially when a group of Russians let of their own display no more that 20’ away. At this point i did lay very flat in the lounger just in case. At midnight the whole beach erupted in a crescendo of noise and colour which lasted for half an hour.
Mix in with this the many thousands of Chinese lanterns that floated above us and we were treated to a spectacular site, nothing of which we have ever seen before.
To top the evening the only thing was to have an early New Year swim in the sea and of course a rinse of
in the hotel pool afterwards. 2am and we drifted back to the room still buzzing from what we had been a small part of. We have over the years been privy to of witnessed the new year in a number of places, New York, San Francisco, Tenerife, Shotley Gate, this though topped the lot. Thank you Chaweng for a very special evening.
Awoke this morning, no hangover, to be greeted by the return of the rain. Had planned to go for a final trek on the bike but instead only ventured up the road to a cafe for brunch just as the heavens opened for the day. Had a quick dash to pick up supplies for the journey to Bangkok then retired to the room to write blog and read. That’s where we are now so I’ll sign off and write again when in NZ later this week.
Bye, J
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Philip & Christine
non-member comment
From TAMMY
Hello Happy New Year to you both, we are enjoying your reports of your special trip. Carry on enjoying your trip, we look forward to your updates. Best regards P&C