Day 151 - Just Another Day in Paradise, aye Phil?

The hut, OK, mine's behind but it still counts

Day 151 - 21st November

So waking up with ocean rolling in just outside my room was a welcomed treat. I stepped out on my mini porch and just breathed in the ocean air. Not a bad start to the day.

I had breakfast in the New Hut restaurant and they told me I couldn't plug in my laptop to charge. That was going to be problem given I was planning to take a week out to do some writing. As all English people do, I just smiled, thanked them for at least indulging the idea before paying for my breakfast.

Haven't a clue who they are - they ruined my bloody shot!

I wrote for most of the day on my porch and bloody loved every second of it. It was so nice to be settled and enjoying what I loved most whilst the sun warmed my feet which were perched on the banister. Not a bad way to spend a day.

I went for a curry at the same place we went to a few days early and had a delicious Makkasan curry on recommendation for the owner. It was awesome with nuts and a creamy sauce on white rice. Not bad for three quid.

Love that Chang

Afterwards, I popped across to an Irish pub and had a Guinness, oh sweet Guinness. The barman offered me free pork scratchings with 119 Baht Changs in litre glasses. I had a few whilst I watched United vs Watford and enjoyed a little relaxation.

Who said travelling was boring - nobody, ever!

Day 147 - Off to Koh Samui

Sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting time.

Day 147 - 17th November

So we were finally leaving Phuket and after the night before's horror show, we were probably better off that way.

We loaded up into a mini van and set off for the east side of Thailand and ultimately Koh Samui.

We made the usual stops as we had coming from Bangkok to Phuket, and after indulging in a few skewers for breakfast followed by a cornetto and some mentos, we were crusing towards Koh Samui.

We had a couple of hours stop over between 12pm and 2pm, where we had a little lunch and sat passing the time away with elegant banter (HAHA) and card games. I love that you get dropped off in the middle of the sticks and you just have to trust that the locals will get you to your destination safely.

By 5:30pm, we were on the dock, waiting to board the ferry across to Koh Samui. A group of English backpackers were there too and my Dutch companions I seem to get everywhere I go (that's not a bad thing, good people the Dutch, it's just they are always there).

On the ferry, Matt passed out and Kel felt a little queasy. By the time we reached Koh Samui, I was just ready to get settled again - for one night!

The pre-arranged mini bus took us three quarters of the way around the island, dropping us off on the east side on Lamai Beach. I can compare the mini bus journey to a Thai boxing match as two sister threw a swing at each other - to be fair, the woman who hit out first did need to use the bathrrom and the driver was refusing to stop for a good 2km!

 They left us at the Sand and Sea resort whilst we walked back down and headed to Vanda House, ignoring the advice giving by the mini bus driver to walk a little further down to New Hut resort - not one of my finest moments. I mean, Vanda was nice and all, the staff were friendly and the rooms were magnificent but the New Hut was apparently huts on Lamai Beach (Don't tell Kel and Dave, for Christ sake).

We walked down the ghost town street (there was literally nothing open and it was pitch black) and stopped at a cracking little Curry place. The woman there was really great, friendly and produced some fantastic food and lemon shakes for us at a decent price. When we asked how long she'd been open, she said "Oh, 7 days."

Not bad digs.

Dave and I came back with a loud response of "Seven days?!" which made her laugh. She told us she'd lived on Samui for 25 years working in a hotel before getting slightly disillusioned with life living on an island and returned to mainland. After a few years, she returned and set up her curry place. Quite a nice feel good story for my readers and I hope she thrives here. It's definitely one to try if you're down near Lamai Beach anytime (it can be found opposite Coffee World).

Afterwards, we went back to Vanda and bid farewell to Matt. Dave, Kel and I would be going to Koh Tao in the morning.