Walking down Kho San road one afternoon I jumped out of my skin when Derek a friend from home ran up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. I couldn't believe it. He was here with ginger Paul for a few days before heading off to Cambodia in a day or two. I introduced them to the delights of cheap long island ice teas. This was something that they very much regretted the following day when they couldn't get up until 4pm for fear of being violently sick. Sorry you two!
We spent the next few days hanging out together. Ginger Paul found out that he really didn't like salt fish. Something that both derek and I could have probably told him!
I treated them to a thai massage as a parting gesture before we headed our separate ways. I was off to Borneo.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Back in Bangkok
Bangkok was so much cleaner than I remembered it. All the taxi's now run on LPG and there have been big efforts to generally tidy the place up. Although very hot and humid it was a pleasure to be back in one of my favourite cities.
Koh San road has spectacular shopping where you can by virtually anything. We spent a long time perusing the knocked off CD and software sellers wares. Meena left after a few days back for the UK.
Koh San road has spectacular shopping where you can by virtually anything. We spent a long time perusing the knocked off CD and software sellers wares. Meena left after a few days back for the UK.
Koh Lanta, Phi and back to Ton Sai
Meena arrived and we stayed a few more days on Ton Sai. After much deliberating we decided to head off to another island just because we thought we should see somewhere else. We both felt however, that it would be unlikely that we would find somewhere as chilled and relaxing as Ton Sai.
We headed to Koh Lanta for a few days which was OK but more developed with resorts. After that we headed to Koh Phi Phi to pay our respects to the poor souls that lost their lives in during the Tsunami nearly two years ago.
Phi Phi is just about starting to get back on its feet. Its a really beautiful island but we felt is was a cross between a building site and a rubbish tip. No doubt things here will improve with time. Meena and I spent most of our time watching movies and catching up on news. The first time with a TV for 3 weeks.
We stayed just two nights on Phi Phi after which massage and cocktails back on Ton Sai beckoned and we headed back there to see it one last time before returning to Bangkok after staying one night in Krabi.
We headed to Koh Lanta for a few days which was OK but more developed with resorts. After that we headed to Koh Phi Phi to pay our respects to the poor souls that lost their lives in during the Tsunami nearly two years ago.
Phi Phi is just about starting to get back on its feet. Its a really beautiful island but we felt is was a cross between a building site and a rubbish tip. No doubt things here will improve with time. Meena and I spent most of our time watching movies and catching up on news. The first time with a TV for 3 weeks.
We stayed just two nights on Phi Phi after which massage and cocktails back on Ton Sai beckoned and we headed back there to see it one last time before returning to Bangkok after staying one night in Krabi.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Hat Ton Sai- Pure paradise but no A/C
I soon got into the swing of doing very little. This was just as well because it was 32 degrees and very very humid. You know, as soon as you've had a shower the exertion from getting dressed leaves you dripping in sweat and needing another shower.
Our huts were up the hill from the beach a little which was just as well since it meant that it was literally too much effort to go back to the room during the day for a kip. This meant more time was spent down on the beach in one of the five or six very cool bars just watching the world go by. The standard of food was excellent everywhere. My staple meal for the next 4 days was Phad Thai. I ate it until I could eat no more. In fact until the very thought of Thai food made me queasy! Luckily my favourite [rock] bar had a great little cafe selling the best ciabatta filled with mozzarella, tomato and basil. Thanks Rachel!
Days slipped by spending most sitting and reading or chatting with the girls. In the afternoon I would have a fluffy bunny (Pina colada) or two and watch the sunset in one of the many deck chairs set up for the purpose.
In the evening I would go for my usual thai massage in a great little place I had found on the road up to the hut. For those of you that haven't tried thai massage you are seriously missing out. Some describe it as Yoga for lazy people. The short stock thai women bend and crack you by using their bodies as levers so as to achieve a near osteopathic like effect. This pleasure cost a mere 300 baht. I would usually tip half that in recognition of their skill and competence. A couple of the positions they had problems with due to me being very tall and them being very small. The result was a giggling couple of people in a heap on the floor. All-in-all a great way to spend 5 or 6 quid.
Our huts were up the hill from the beach a little which was just as well since it meant that it was literally too much effort to go back to the room during the day for a kip. This meant more time was spent down on the beach in one of the five or six very cool bars just watching the world go by. The standard of food was excellent everywhere. My staple meal for the next 4 days was Phad Thai. I ate it until I could eat no more. In fact until the very thought of Thai food made me queasy! Luckily my favourite [rock] bar had a great little cafe selling the best ciabatta filled with mozzarella, tomato and basil. Thanks Rachel!
Days slipped by spending most sitting and reading or chatting with the girls. In the afternoon I would have a fluffy bunny (Pina colada) or two and watch the sunset in one of the many deck chairs set up for the purpose.
In the evening I would go for my usual thai massage in a great little place I had found on the road up to the hut. For those of you that haven't tried thai massage you are seriously missing out. Some describe it as Yoga for lazy people. The short stock thai women bend and crack you by using their bodies as levers so as to achieve a near osteopathic like effect. This pleasure cost a mere 300 baht. I would usually tip half that in recognition of their skill and competence. A couple of the positions they had problems with due to me being very tall and them being very small. The result was a giggling couple of people in a heap on the floor. All-in-all a great way to spend 5 or 6 quid.
Thailand- A jewel in Asia!
It was my second time in Thailand. The first time I had gone to the north which is stunning. At that time I made the decision not to go to the south because I don't like tourists (Ironic really) and am not a big fan of beaches. So this time I had to go south and luckily my lovely friend Sarah was due to be there at the same time.
Having had no real time to decide where I was going in the south, I was pleased that Sarahs friend Tammy chose a place that turned out to be pretty much paradise (other than no A/C). I arrived in Bangkok in the middle of the afternoon after a terrible flight where I was sandwiched between two other seats despite arriving at the airport 3 hours early in an attempt to win some legroom for my very tall frame. Flight over I had a long wait for for my domestic connection to Krabi. After some OK Phad Thai and a longer wait due to delays I was heading down to Krabi with all the exciting expectation that a new place brings. From Krabi airport I got a taxi who drove at 120kph to get me to Au Nang to get a longtail before they stopped around midnight. At the jetty I found a boat and another passenger to halve the fare and we headed off into the rain towards Hat Ton Sai. We landed at the beach and I stumbled over the soft sand to the chill out bar and wouldn't you know it. Sarah, Jeanette and Tammy were there. Great to see some friendly faces. I was shattered but it didn't stop us having a good few beers.
That night I slept 12 full hours and was greated by a smiling Sarah in the afternoon. The girls had kindly booked me a hut next door so everything was sorted.
Having had no real time to decide where I was going in the south, I was pleased that Sarahs friend Tammy chose a place that turned out to be pretty much paradise (other than no A/C). I arrived in Bangkok in the middle of the afternoon after a terrible flight where I was sandwiched between two other seats despite arriving at the airport 3 hours early in an attempt to win some legroom for my very tall frame. Flight over I had a long wait for for my domestic connection to Krabi. After some OK Phad Thai and a longer wait due to delays I was heading down to Krabi with all the exciting expectation that a new place brings. From Krabi airport I got a taxi who drove at 120kph to get me to Au Nang to get a longtail before they stopped around midnight. At the jetty I found a boat and another passenger to halve the fare and we headed off into the rain towards Hat Ton Sai. We landed at the beach and I stumbled over the soft sand to the chill out bar and wouldn't you know it. Sarah, Jeanette and Tammy were there. Great to see some friendly faces. I was shattered but it didn't stop us having a good few beers.
That night I slept 12 full hours and was greated by a smiling Sarah in the afternoon. The girls had kindly booked me a hut next door so everything was sorted.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Redundancy- Yay!!
Having worked for the same company for the past 10 years and having expected redundancy for the last 5 years, I was chuffed to bits to finally be there!
My gardening leave completed on the 11th of November. There was no point looking for work between November and february and not being a big fan of christmas and the prospect of saving money compared to being in london over that period and loving travel and the prospect of seeing lots of friends and family throughout my trip....... I had no second thoughts about booking a round the world ticket.
The only downside was leaving Meena at home where she has to work... Well one of us has to! But Meena would come to Thailand for two weeks and then again out to Ecuador and the Galapagos for two weeks. We were only going to be apart for 6 weeks maximum and she doesn't have my constant winging and moaning to deal with.
So it all seemed like a good idea........
My gardening leave completed on the 11th of November. There was no point looking for work between November and february and not being a big fan of christmas and the prospect of saving money compared to being in london over that period and loving travel and the prospect of seeing lots of friends and family throughout my trip....... I had no second thoughts about booking a round the world ticket.
The only downside was leaving Meena at home where she has to work... Well one of us has to! But Meena would come to Thailand for two weeks and then again out to Ecuador and the Galapagos for two weeks. We were only going to be apart for 6 weeks maximum and she doesn't have my constant winging and moaning to deal with.
So it all seemed like a good idea........
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