18.09.2004
Island-hopping recap
The time has come, the Walrus said.
From jungle beats to house party retreats (we lived on Koh Pha Ngan long enough!), we've spent a lot of time in paradise. Some say too much. That's why we had to do a border run by boat to Burma so we could extend our stay another thirty days. Of course.
More...13.09.2004
Still on The Beach
Not much to report except that we're still chillin on a tropical beach in Thailand.
Our new home is on Phi Phi - the island where The Beach was filmed. Still spending the days basking in the sun and snorkeling or swimming in the truly turquoise water.
It really is a hard life.
31.08.2004
Having Fun Kids?
I found this story written on a crumpled bit of paper - discarded on the
beach at Haad Rin. Before the local kids had time to throw it away I
retrieved it, re-typed it, and clicked 'post':
24.08.2004
Haad Rin
Just a quick recap and some pics. Left Bottle beach to head to one of the east-coast beaches for two nights. Our greatest achievement was hanging up five hammocks without any damage to persons or bungalows.
Weather got a little overcast so we went for a change of scenery in the hope of a change in weather. Which of course worked with some nice weather yesterday. Last night had a few drinks at our bungalow on the eastern headland of the main beach - located just above the Mellow Mountain bar.
Oh, here's a pic of Tommys, and Palitas we took this morning. Will suss out if the owner's niece is still looking for a husband Glenn.
15.08.2004
Beach bums
After two months of backpacking around SE Asia, we really have earnt our "holiday within a holiday". After all, we really do need a vacation from all of this backpacking! We're now on Koh Pha Ngan, one of the south-eastern islands of Thailand and are naturally indulging in the island lifestyle.
More...07.08.2004
Koh Pha Ngan
It didn't take too long for us to get over the smog, heat, and hassles of Bangkok again before we jumped on an overnight bus down to Surat Thani, and a boat across to Koh Pha Ngan. The sand's so white you definitely do need sunnies on a midday walk, and the water's as blue, and turquiose, and aqua as the brochures say.
More...08.06.2004
Jungle cleansing
Who would have ever thought that squat toilets and bathing from a tub of water, in the midst of a jungle, would ever contribute to an enjoyable bathing experience. However... the open air, sub-tropical 'bathrooms' are definitely the type of enclosure we're after post-office existance.
There are even palms planted throughout to ensure natural exfoliation if need be - now there's a whole new use for palm fronds!
05.06.2004
Treehouse
A magical circular expanse of island-traveller chatter resting atop a comfortably uneven floor of buckling wood planks. Mismatched mats of odd patterns and colour mark out the territory for each table. Hung from the ceiling of the wide thatched roof are colourful cloth lanterns.
More...03.06.2004
Ko Chang
After a taxi-taxi-ferry-taxi we've arrived at Lonely Beach which is near the southern tip of the island.
More...01.06.2004
Trat
Neatly sorted and cooked insects on a barrow attracted more digital snaps than customers in Bangkok last night. At least from the traveller crowd. The converted red combi van serving spirits attracted more. Of course.
31.05.2004
Last day of spring (must be the jet lag) :-P
Well here we are in Bangkok on the last day of spring. Our travelling companion on the flight was Udo, a homeopathy practioner of german descent from Coogee who tagged along in the taxi to Khao San road where we stumbled exhausted into the nearest guesthouse. We managed to take in our first off-the-street pad thai - clearly outrageously overpriced at eighty cents.
Just round the corner a drink-stall owner whipped up a fresh fruit juice in a blender with a sneaky drop of sweetened condensed milk. Did we want to drink here, or take away? Drink here, most definitely. So when we were handed the juice in a little plastic carry-bag with a straw I was a little bemused. We sat there sucking down the moorish things anyway, just as a major monsoonal downpour sent every Thai and his dog scurrying to pack up shop. The humidity is more than bearable but the rains are always so welcome.
We managed to locate a better guesthouse today just to the north of Khao San road - Sawasdee house. A quieter tree-lined street with a ground level open-air travellers lounge - exactly what should be prescribed when staying in Bangkok. All wood-carved elephant seats and corner-cushions on floors, and quiet conversations, and a multitude of accents and backpacks and rapidly emptying juice glasses.
So today will be all about Cambodian visas, Ko Chang bus times, and currency conversion. If all goes to plan we will probably head down on the five hour journey to Trat tomorrow morning to make the ferry across. These damn books are heavy and my back will surely lead a mutiny against my eyes unless they start devouring the words quickly - I've started on Life of Pi and I'm already hooked.
Off to organise. Summer here we come.
