Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Update 2 so more old news for the e-mail readers!!
After leaving Cambodia it was a quick 2 night stop in Koh Chang which was a very unimpressive place but it did leave a mark on me, quite a big one on my back from a tattoo artist that could speak no english, had learnt to tattoo in jail and did it with a foot long piece of bamboo. Impressive stuff even if it did take 4 hours of pain to get it done.
Back to Bangkok again but just for the night on Khao San Road and then a night train down South. A night in Krabi which was good fun with some decent cheap shopping and then off to my favourite place from the first trip to Thailand, Phi Phi.
I was worried it wouldn't live up to my memories but ended up far succeeding them with the place being just as beautiful as it was back then with some stunning beaches and a great vibe about the place. Everyone there is tanned to the max so I was glad of my 2 weeks on the beach in Sihanouville so I didn't stand out! It was Christmas while we were there and had booked some really nice accommodation as a bit of a treat and it was well worth it. Nightlife there is really good fun and made even better by the fact there are so few loutish Brits about giving us a bad name. Christmas Day itself was pretty much like a normal day although I did have my moments of missing a traditional Christmas dinner and being with all the family. The Christmas night out was legendary though and met some awesome characters as we polished off several buckets of Thai whisky and Red Bull! It was a shame to leave but leave we had to but I know it won't be long before I head back to my favourite paradise island and maybe next time for an extended stay!
Had quite a journey from the west coast to the east to get to Koh Phangan and the hour or so that we had on Koh Samui getting to Koh Phangan was more than enough for me. I could see straight away that this is package holiday hotspot number 1 in Thailand and not my sort of place being surrounded by overweight, pasty westerners in such of the nearest English pub. Koh Phangan was for most people over the age of 25 hell on earth I imagine absolutely jam-packed with young travellers but for what we were there for it was perfect. Spent every night on the beach and every day recovering from some major hangovers. We met a great group that were staying at the same place as Emma and the girls and had great fun with them each night out in Haad Rin. The warm up parties on the 3 nights before New Years Eve were some of the best nights of my life but the main event itself was easily in top spot for best ever nights. Imagine a big group of Brits all in ridiculous (pink rave gear) fancy dress in amongst 30000 people on a beach drinking buckets of alcohol and throwing some moves until 9am in the morning and that doesn't even start to sum up the night. Thank-god for the Asian version (original) of Red Bull though that brought me to life each day and up for another party. 4 awesome nights in a row did however mean that the New Years Day hangover was pure pain but it was totally worth it and may just have to make a return trip next year or else no New Years Eve could ever live up to that ... surely?
With 30,000 people all wanting to leave the island and only 2 directions (by boat) to go to meant for an interesting boat journey to Koh Tao. Throw in the worst weather so far of the trip causing some seriously rough seas and you have a packed boat being thrown side to side (with just 1 life ring I might add), crashing into waves which soaked us each time and you get people freaking out that they are going to die and plenty of sickness. It was a hilarious journey even if it was more scary than any roller coaster Ive been on only slightly marred by 2 people's puke being brought right into the direction of my face and others by the wind and the boat motion. With nothing to take away the taste of another mans sick I had to resort to licking wet wipes!!
Koh Tao I thought might just be 5 days of scuba diving and detoxing and I was half right. The scuba diving was brilliant even if I did have to rely on Emma as my 'buddy' for an alternative air source which is slightly unnerving at the bottom of the sea when she is pulling x-rated faces at me. Saw some really cool fish and it is literally like being in another world as you cruise about under the water exploring all the rocks and coral etc etc. The only disappointment was not seeing any sharks which we had hoped to on one of our deep dives and there was nearly another more serious disappointment when I very nearly lost my head to a boats propeller when I went casually swimming up to the surface without looking above me! Woops! Found some really cool bars to go drinking in in particular one called Lotus Bar which was the place to be and was host to some seriously impressive fire spinning people. Also went to a ladyboy cabaret which was one of the funniest things Ive ever seen although Im not sure it would be taken so well if they appeared in a bar back home!
And that was the end of my time on the islands sadly and the end of my time with the girlies which had been amazing fun. No culture over the last few weeks but brilliant fun and has to be done when in Thailand.
- comments