Petra's April Thai Visit- Koh Samui.

Thailand Travels

Koh Samui

This island is on the East of Thailand in the Gulf of Thailand. It is where my parents live and where we spent the first 10 days of Petra’s trip. After spending the first 4 days trying to Petra use to the chillis and the sun, we finally gave up, we opted instead for learning the Thai way to say “not spice” which is “mai ow prik” and we bought her a huge sun hat- job done!

That taken care of we headed to the waterfall. This day just got more and more bizaar. I was sun-bathing by the pool at the base of the waterfall and a butterfly landed on me, how nice I thought, it sat on me for a while whilst Petra took some photos then I nicely shooed it away, but the thing kept coming back, I’d tolerate for a while then shoo it away again. After 10 minutes of this the thing started seriously irritating me and much to the amusement of the local Thais, instead of shooing it away I was trying to swat the thing every time it came near me. The butterfly was so persistent that in the end Petra and I had to move, how mad is that.

On the half an hour hike back down to the car we somehow adopted a tag along Buddhist Monk. The guy wouldn’t leave us alone and wouldn’t let go of Petra’s arm- He obviously wasn’t a genuine monk or he wouldn’t be allowed to touch a woman. This in mind and plus me still feeling slightly molested from that butterfly, I started getting a bit testy with the guy. I tried to tell him to go away but he just gave us a huge smile and kept latched on to Petra. We stepped up the pace and were actually starting to get a bit scared of him. Fortunately he momentarily lagged behind on a bend, so we adopted a pace close to a sprint the rest of the way back to the car.

What a peculiar day- first I’m attacked by a butterfly then Petra by a Monk!

SONGKRAN April 2008

Ah arrrr!!! SONGKRAN my favorite time of the year...

Petra paid an extortunate amount to arrive in Thailand in time for Songkran, which is 13th-15th April, but due to delays in London she missed it. BUGGER!!!

But I was here and had a great day.

Songkran is the Thai New Year, celebrated every year it falls on the hottest part of the year- the end of the dry season. Thais and tourist alike celebrate it by throwing water everywhere and on everyone. Its done to cleanse you and wish you luck for the new year.

The pictures explain the rest...

Thailand April 2008

I’m loving this free time now in Thailand. It’s a great chance to look after number one. I am exercising every day- even stretching, catching some sun action, also loving the Thai cuisine. Thai food is great it is so easy to eat healthy over here, at the moment I have not eaten meat at all for about a week, I am not a vegetarian but I’m just not missing it at all.

I have also got my chores around the house to do. There are fish and a tortoise to feed, pools to clean and lots and lots of wood to sand and teak oil.

I have got a few weeks now till my friend Petra arrives. She is staying for 3 weeks and I’m sure I’ll get a lot of touristy things done in that time- can’t wait!

Till next time xxx 

AUSTRALIA

G'day mate.

Land of Kangaroos, Vegimite, 'rad' surfing, Steve Irwin and fish 'n' chips- I bet Aus as got nearly as many chippys as the UK, I would actually like to find out the numbers and compare.

My parents were out in Aus cruising around in a campercan so I arranged for them to pick me up at Sydney airport.

Australian immigration is probably the strictest in the world. I timidly stepped in to the 'something to declare' queue with my 'Cadburys fruit and nut' bar. Apparently I needent have bothered as it was processed and packaged but the form did say no fruit or nuts so i was only being honest. Anyway, after my escape from the law, I then bought a bottle of  water with a $50 bill to get some change for the phonebox and I called my Parents to let them know that I had landed. The Campervan couldn't make it into arrivals because of an height restriction so I trecked down to departures and awaited them there. 

The airport official outside departures, incharge of watching people drop off holiday goers, was obviously hired straight from a physciatric institute. He sported an elluminous orange vest and continued to inform me that I couldn't be picked up from there, only dropped off. I asked what was the difference, told him my situation but eventually decided to ignore him and stay there anyway. He hung close to me, I guess waiting to pounce on me the second my lift arrived. Lukily my dad pulled up just as he was distracted by a double parked taxi, I saw that as my get away and dived into the kitchenet shouting "drive, drive, drive!".

I was planning on spending two weeks in Australia and had already spent the last week with the 'Lonely Planet' planning an eventful trip up to 'Fraiser Island'.

We headed up the coast, kind of beach hopping. We spent most of the time on the road stopping every other night at a campsite to refill water, do laundry etc. The other nights we just slept by the road troubled with my mums fear that we were going to get crashed into by another vheical whilst we slept. 

The beaches in Aus are beautiful, they continued the whole of the coast almost, 20 mile long beaches in areas. We would stop off at various 'must see' places like, spectacular beaches, national parks, nice towns and so on. A few places that I had down as 'must sees' were, 'Mcleans' which is a small town that is very proud of its Sottish heritage, all of the lamp post are decorated with a different clans tartan. You could also get 'Hagis' there. I just thought that it sounded like a quirky place. After going there I decided that I really liked it and think I may of found my future retirment place- Scotland with Sunshine- but then again Aussies are just like English with a worst accent, so I'm still searching for my place to live. 

Another stop along the way was a small place called 'Ainsworth'. We stayed on a campsite there right next to 'Lake Ainsworth'. The lake as got natural tea tree oil in it that drips off the trees around the lake. After a swim there our skin felt great. I also enjoyed a long run on the beach there- I did go running everyday but that one was my favourite.

We set off again heading north bound for Australia Zoo, made famous by Steve Irwin. It was a great zoo, the animals were just roaming around free, no cages- just barriers. It really hit me that this should be the only way zoos are. We were there for the daily show that was hosted by Terry Irwin, it was a good show of elephants, crocs, birds, snakes and humour. After the zoo we headed up to 'Noosa Heads' were I met up with a friend I used to work with, I stayed there for a few nights whilst my parents headed up to 'Fraiser Island' via 'Harvey Bay'.

The next day my friend had off work so we ventured out for the day. We first went to a waterfall and trekked through the forest until we thought we had best turn around and head back before we ended up getting lost and spending the night in the Aussie Outback. On the way back we sopped at a few places in the car, first being a huge market on the outskirts of a town that I can't quite remember the name of, there were stalls selling all kinds of new, funky, handmade little trinkets and clothes. Throughout the market were bands playing all sorts of music and instruments- off-course the 'Didgareedoo'.

After the market we stopped for lunch in a lovely little town- really old english kinda feel, then headed backed for the night. 

My parents picked me up the next day and we drove the  miles back to Sydney. I'm now heading back to Thailand via Singapore.

SINGAPORE MARCH '08

I am still on with the gym and the tan but I am venturing away from Thailand for a few weeks. First stop Singapore.

To Do List:

• get laptop fixed
• get Thai Visa
• shop a little
• board my flight to Australia

I booked into an hotel online before leaving Thailand. I thought I knew where the hotel was so decided to go there myself on the MRT (train), but it turned out I was mistaken. I ended up getting off the MRT at the wrong station and dragging my suit-case (with a broken wheel) around the busy streets of Singapore at 10pm- Luckily I was in the safest city in the world, at least it wasn't 'The Bronx'. I finally acknowledge defeat and jump in a taxi that got me there in two minutes. I crashed out for the night.

Singapore is one of the hottest cities in the world and I'm sure the most organized in Asia. Everybody walks in lines and crosses at the 'green man', J walking is illegal and i did get pulled by a police man once for doing it. People dress very formal and smart, in the heat this is quite a skill. The people are lovely- very friendly and the best thing about it is there are no 'Brits on tour'. Singapore does have a lot of British influence, they drive on the left, speak English for first language, it's like being in China town in London but a lot hotter.

I did a lot of walking in Singapore, I thought that by boycotting the MRT I would see more of the city and I was right. Not sure I had the correct foot wear though, my 'Slim Havianas' left quite the blisters by the end of the trip. I don't like to give Havianas bad press though, I take full responsibility for pushing their limits and they are still my favorite flip flop.

I dropped my laptop off and purchased 2 years further warranty on it. I also met a 'delightful' lady at the Thai Embassy who told me I couldn't have a Thai Visa because I were to young- Oh would this be the same Visa I got 2 years ago when, evidently, I were younger. This was all from the lady giving out applications and she sent me packing- no Visa.

I joined the gym there, did a little shopping- rude not to shop in Singapore and watched a few films at the cinema to pass the time. Four days later I picked up my newly working 'mac' and headed for the airport, this time bound for Sydney.

THAILAND MARCH '08

Arrival in Thailand, what to do now...

My Parents have a great place out here- not a bad half way house. 

I have got some stuff to sort out, my laptop crashed, I had  it all backed up but not organized, so i'll be spending many a hours sorting out all of my photos, music etc and backing it up properly this time. It won't be all desk work though. I shall be hitting the gym hard, I love training, I love the feeling of being fit and having a good body to show for it, thats one thing that makes me happy so away I go. Also a tan might help a little too- I seem to have acquired a great farmers tan after two years of shorts and T-shirt for uniform, so putting a stop to that is high priority, I'm thinking SPF30, on arms and legs, and SPF6 everywhere else.

I'll let you know if I decide to do something more eventful than this. 

MARCH '08

Long time no see...

The last two years of my Blog, pretty much all of it, has been a diary of my life whilst working onboard a Super-Yacht that as been cruising around the world. I have had a great time on this boat, it as taken me to places i didn't even know existed, places that the keenest of explorers would have a hard time getting to. I can't even explain some of the things i have seen, just so... "eye opening".

I am only recounting all of this now because i have left the boat after two years living and working on it.

I have seen so many beautiful views, done so many exceptional things and met some great people along the way- some of my best friends.

I can't believe how easy it would have been for me to stay in Bolton, I would have missed all of this. I wouldn't have been less happier though, just unaware.

Anyway I left that boat now, mainly because 2years seemed like a long time to be without... reality I guess- I don't know. 

I am off to Thailand now to stay with my mum n dad for a while, as of 2nd March '08. My dads thinking of getting a yacht this summer and I'm keen to get some sailing experience on that.