Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Ellie and Mia in the big wide world
So we arrived at our YMCA hostel in Chiang Mai with a 'pool' (aka hole in the ground half filled with murky water) and that night decided to meet some elephant park peeps at Chaing Mai main square. It completely escaped our memories that Sonkran (water) festival goes on for several days in various parts of Thailand. I specifically remember our conversation going something like: 'Hey Ellie, shall we dress up a bit, it's been a while, and it'll be nice to wear something snazzy' 'Yeah Mia, that's a good idea, might even put a bit of make up on'.
So a long taxi ride later and we were fully aware that there was a national water fight going on and everyone was taking it very seriously. No one else that we were meeting had really acknowledged that there would be a water fight either (the elephant park is a world away from the actual world so you kinda lose touch of reality a bit) so they all scarpered pretty soon after we arrived. After a serious pair of bad moods, due to not having any weapons to defend ourselves (water pistols/water balloons etc) or anything plastic to cover our electronic goods, we sat down to dinner (drenched head to foot by this point). The whole area actually had a really good vibe, it was very busy and everyone was playing. Ellie and I got out of our taxi and hatched a plan to escape the water which failed within about 5 seconds because we had got out of our taxi on a roundabout, within clear shot of EVERYONE with a water gun/hose etc. It was pretty funny. Then we got lost which is when the bad moods loomed. Anyway, all in good fun. After dinner we returned to our hotel for a good nights sleep ready for our flight the next day.
Our flight the next day went as smoothly as it could. We arrived in Bangkok and headed to Silver Gold Gardens Hotel (where the service comes with a scowl and a mumble of words as opposed to a smile. And no one has a clue what you're talking about). We headed to Koah San Road that evening, preparing for an onslaught because we knew the festival was STILL going on. Happy New Year and all that but REALLY!? Being continuously soaked for 4 days on end. Tiring. So we arrived at Kaoh San Road - the party central of Bangkok and it was MENTAL busy. I can't even describe the atmosphere; like one big, wet, floury (because they were throwing flour too) party! No wonder the taxi driver was laughing at us when we said we wanted to go there. He tried to tell us not to go, at which point we thought he was a bit mental (because of the language barrier and because he was laughing at us the whole way there) but it turns out he as actually quite sensible. We soaked up the atmosphere, got totally drenched and flour soaked again, and headed back to our hotel. People were particularly keen on throwing buckets at us as we sat in our tuk tuk, unable to escape, which was cold and breezy but funny! Our next stop was Rafael Mansions, in another area of Bangkok - the nicest,most helpful manager/owner. This is where we would meet the girls and head to the islands of Thailand for some party time!! We spent the day on 16th April doing everything and nothing which includes eachother's make up and hair, reading, play cards, watch TV etc. Very important stuff. Ellie discovered she can do a french plait which was a milestone which she was very happy about! Later that evening we went to meet the lovely Jess Murphy and Victoria Cole so that party/veach time can begin! We met themat the airport with their names written on paper (in Thai AND English) so that was very cool! We caught several modes of transport over to our Koh Samui destination - train, bus, boat, taxi. Then we arrived at Swing Bar and Rich Resort Hotel. The area was awesome with loads of restaurants and bars close by, including the Swing Bar opposite us that backed out on to the beach, which is where we spent several nights watching the amazing human fire show. One of those nights being the first one on the island... We started at a pop-up type bar which was clustered with lots of other similar looking bars which had poles in the middle for the dancers. So after a quick game of spot the lady-boy (which is actually hard to do with the un-trained eye!) we had some uber cheap cocktails (all after a nice dinner of course. Drinking on an empty stomach isn't very sensible). Then we had some more uber cheap cocktails...and another one just to finish it all off. It all ended with me and Ellie on the pole (doing a really bad job of being sexy) and all of us running in to the sea together before going to bed :) What a wicked way to end our first night and begin the girly holiday! So the next few days were a mixture of lying on the beach behind Swing Bar, going out for din dins and having some drinks. The human fire show happened a few times, and really was amazing. There was this one dude who was out of this world talented with his big balls of fire....Anyhoo on the 18th April we had another good night in Koh Samui before heading over to Koh Phangan - on Chawang Beach. There we met young Dennis and his friends who were a good laugh...and interesting...and fun times! We went for a couple drinks at some bars, where we met the Dennis crew, just after having dinner and a mobile cocktail whilst shopping (love mobile cocktail stands!) then headed to a club where we danced lots! After a boat ride then a taxi, we arrived at Koh Phangan and headed to our planned hostel - Ohm Ganesh. This is something we booked around 6 months previously and rang to confirmourplace 2 weeks before arriving. So we rocked up WITH email confirmation but Ohm Ganesh refused having ever received our booking. Which was really irritating. The owner was rude and unhelpful - on their error, we didn't have a place to stay, so he offered a crappier room, with no freebies included (we were originally going to get 1x bucket for drinks, a t-shirt and body paints for the full moon party) for the same price. After we tried to point out this wasn't a good deal, and quite unfair, he then decided that he had no roomfor us and asked us to leave. So when I get home, that place is gonna get one shocking review from me and the girls. Dusche bags. But anyway it all worked in our favour because we found a LUSH hotel called Drop In Resort. We arrived at the hotel, drop our stuff and headed to the pool, where we met a group of guys who were a good laugh, we played in the pool with them until about 7pm then got ready to go out. We ended up at the beach bars - Cactus was a good place as any. We drank the famous buckets which were bloody lethal - all our memories of the night were a bit shoddy. It ended up in the hotel pool anyway. All in all a really fun night!! Seriously thought....they put a full bottle of vodka (or other choice of liquer) a mixer and their version of red bull. And the red bull was our undoing - it sent me a bit loopy anyway. We had a couple more wicked nights on the beach bars, which always ended up with atleast one of us in the sea, a flip flop or 3 missing and a headache ready and waiting for the next day. The days were spent by our hotel pool where there was a bar and bangin music and a good place to get a tan. On the 25th we painted up, had some drinks on the balcony (which had an amazing view of the sea and part of the island) and headed to the full moon party by about 10pm. We'd been having a few heavy nights previously so we were all still a little fragile. By the time we arrived, the beach was heaving. The atmosphere was really good, but we stayed for only an hour or so. We all thought the full moon party was good, but we'd had some good nights on the beach already, where it wasn't so busy, so thought maybe it was a bit over-rated. On the 28th was Smelly Ellie's Birthday!! We all said happy birthday to her in bed in the morning and went off for breakfast where Ellie opened all her prezzies! Later on, Ellie Skyped her parents so she could open their presents for her (that had been brought over by Jass and Vicky). That evening we all had a lovely dinner to celebrate Elli's special day! Vicky had a peircing done, then went home (because she was feeling a bit poorly) and Jess, Ellie and I went to a bakery shop and had some yummy (over priced) treats :D Ellie and I played osme cards back at the hotel. It was a relaxing but lovely day! I hope Ellie agrees....! We left Koh Phangan the next day, arriving at Surat Thani Train station to get a train to Bangkok where we would say Bye Bye to the girls :( to then head on to Cambodia. Our train was delayed by 3 hours, which was awesome because it was due in near 12 midnight anyway by we passed the time by playing some mature games and having a giggle, so it was all good! The night train was so nice! You got your own compartment with a curtain, and you could fully lie down. We all got a wicked nights sleep as far as I could remember :) The next day back at Bangkok, we said goodbye to the girls as they got in a taxi :( it was a wicked two weeks of party and sun and well needed. At first I think Ellie and I found it difficult as we had been usedto doing stuff everyday, but once we got in to the swing of it, the relaxation was definitely a good thing and thanks to the girls we had a right giggle too!! So on 2nd May, Ellie and I headed for Cambodia by coach which Ellie will tell you more about..... xxxx
- comments