Thailand - Recap

So a recap of Thailand. Mixed emotions about this place, some bits I just couldn't get on board with or felt underwhelmed (sorry, but that's just honest) but some bits I absolutely loved!

Bangkok, particularly Khaosan Road was not enough for me but meeting Paul (a family friend), seeing a ping pong show and being with my sister and cousin made it better.

Chiang Mai and the islands further south were fantastic.

So let's crack on:

Chiang Mai - 03rd November - 06th November

Top 5 moments:

1. Deejai Backpackers Hostel - nice, friendly and chilled out.

2. Wat Chedi Luang

3. The Post Office bonanza - couldn't find the bloody place despite walking past it multiple times.

4. The crazy old man trying to set me up with a ladyboy.

5. Hanging off the back of a Tuk Tuk at 50 kph

Bangkok - 06th November - 09th November / 11th November - 12th November

Top 5 moments:

1. Dave pulling bunting out of a woman at the Ping Pong Show.

2. Samsen Skyline Hostel receptionist - bloody brilliant woman!

3. Khaosan Road first night with Kel and Dave. Shocking Pad Thai Kels!

4. The reclining Buddha and Wat Pho.

5. The airport arrival of Kel and Dave and seeing them for the first time in five months - "Yesssssssssssss!!!"

Kanchanaburi - 09th November - 11th November

Top 5 moments -

1. Elephant Sanctuary

 

2. Sugar Cane 2 Guest Huts

3. Death Railway

4. The bar girls beating us at Connect 4

5. The resort and ghost story talk.

Phuket - 13th November - 16th November

Top 5 moments:

1. James Bond Island - another Bond location ticked off.

2. Snorkelling.

3. The Capsule hostel.

4. The bars and nightlife - they provided plenty of laughs.

5. Jet skiing with Dave.

Koh Samui - 16th November /  20th November - 28th November

Top 5 moments:

1. The New Hut Bungalows.

2. 'Chicken and Rice' with Matt - daily, sometimes double daily, ritual.

3. The Mynt Lounge with Joy, Emmi and the gang.

4. The views.

5. Lou Kratong festival.

Koh Tao - 17th November - 18th November

Top 5 moments:

1. Snorkelling.

2. The Sairee Hut Resort.

3. Setting a head tennis record with Dave - a 57 rally and a splitting headache.

4. Our heart to heart talk at the beach side bar.

5. Fire show at The Sunset Bar.

Koh Phangan - 19th November

Top 5 moments:

1. The Half Moon Party.

2. Finding converse and a Superman t-shirt in a second hand store - what a find.

3. The Lime and Soda Hut on the beach.

4. The dodgy face painting.

5. The Thai Massage.

Day 148 - Koh Tao, now!

Private boating and snorkelling

Day 148 - 18th November

Another early start left me wondering why I even bother booking hostels. I might as well just stay awake all night instead of getting a few hours kip.

Anyhow, Matt saw us off at 6am and we jumped in another mini van and headed for the pier. The ferry ride was less than a couple of hours, bypassing Koh Phangan where we would be going for the Half Moon Party - in one day!

We were transported away from the hustle and bustle on the dock just five minutes down to a resort I'd looked up on HostelBookers. The Sairee Hut Resort was perfect. Sitting right on the beach and another nice sized room for three of us.

Out of their depth?

We booked up snorkelling and within half an hour, we were out on our own private Long Boat with our skipper and cruising across the waters to our snorkelling sites. I couldn't resist a rendition of 'Robin Hood' as Del-Boy did in To Hull and Back.

We kitted up and dived in at the first spot. The fish were great but sparse. I enjoyed watching the coral more, moving slowly underwater. I floated there for a good twenty minutes, popping up now and again to readjust my snorkel. Kel and Dave seemed to enjoy their first experience too.

We moved around the bay a little more to our second destination and armed with bread, dived in again. This time I took off my life jacket and found it easier to move around. I even swam further out and saw some species of fish I'd never seen before on previous snorkels.

Loving the private beach life

For lunch we paid 100 Baht to go to Koh Nangyuan Island to see the narrow strip of beach that is famous for being a mini paradise on Koh Tao. Lunch was nice, with a pork noodle soup filling me half way up and my old pal, the banana pancake finishing the job.

By early afternoon, we were back on the beach and settling in to our place for a swim in the sea. We invested in a volleyball and Dave and I had a round of head tennis before the sunset. We were aiming for a record of 50 and after countless attempts, we finally reached 57, with sore heads I might add.

We sat around the beach side bar of our hostel and had discussions about family and life in general - only the sort of chat you can have over a Chang in a tropical climate. It when you have time on your hands that you really do get to know people - even people you've know all your life and are your family. The details of course stay between us - sorry!

We had dinner at the bar before readying and going just next door to The Sunset Bar. There, we enjoyed beers, were entertained with a fire show and relaxed as the waves crashed against the shore and the stars were out overhead in abundance - quite the mental image, huh?

All in all, it had been a brief but fantastic stop over in Koh Tao. It was a real shame we were running out of time. Only two days left until Kel and Dave were leaving :-(