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Day 11 - Sunday 5th August
Met the new group tonight... wasn't what we had hoped for. 2 boring, old Aussies aparantly on their honeymoon?!, Laura (slightly simple), Anoska who was a PE teacher from Lincoln (i think) and a really nice Irish girl, very quiet - not sure of her name. Can't really see us having much fun with them!
However there was one more person joining us, Dave. Jan's friend from back home - definately one of us... excellant choice Jan! We sugessted going out for dinner as a group so that we could try to get to know the new people, but they didn't want to so us girlies went to Spicy Affair (Sheesha cafe) while Jan and Dave had champagne... nice for some! Laura and I went on to Silk bar afterwards for a drink, but the place had quite a few skanks in as it was almost closing... then stumbled back to bed.
Day 12 - Monday 6th August
Met the group in the receptions, after attempting to pack my bag with all my shopping in it! Was not funny... Dave took photos of me trying to stand up, he liken me to a turtle on it's back trying to flip itself the right way up! Thanks Dave!
Went to Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) as a group. Laura and I climbed to the top - really steep but worth it, got a great view of the city from over the river. Was a really hot and sticky day - remember just wanting to sit in a pool all day and so looking forward to finally getting to the islands and the sea!
Booked my Padi course, through the same company as Laura - just gotta work out how I'm going to get from Koh Tao to Singapore now! Had a free afternoon so went to MBK with girlies... I bought two beautiful Mulberry bags, some mac make-up then left before I wanted anything else!
Met up with group at 6:20pm and took taxi's to Bangkok train station, jumped on overnight train to Surat Thani. It was really cool train, we were in 1st class (not as we know it), fans, pull down beds that was it. Laura and I took top bunks so the sisters could have the bottom ones. Laura didn't sleep much, had been getting text about what her ex had been up to.
Day 13 - Tuesday 7th August
Arrived in Surat Thani at 7am, had breakfast in a small cafe over the road.... and waited for the bus to take us to the port... hour later and we were still waiting so Nan (our guide) called the driver, who was asleep! Bus arrived at 8:20am, and we just made the ferry at Don Sak ferry port!
First island stop - Koh Panagn (or Koh Pa Nagn)
After 2 hour ferry journey which was hot, sticky and very boring we all had to cram into a songtheaw with our luggage on the roof. Took another 30 minutes before we arrived at Pens Bungalows where we were staying. The rooms were really cute, air-con, hot showers and a double bed (Laura had the single). Love this place already! Even had a hammock outside our room and could be on the beach in 30 secs. Had lunch then went for a swim... which ended up being us sitting in the sea chatting for 2 hours!
Had chance to spend time getting ready for dinner tonight which was really lovely, even painted my nails! Then relaxed in the hammock before going down for a bbq dinner - majority of the group had fresh fish on bbq, I didnt! Started drinking early - the four girls (me included) bought a bottle of baileys. Took a walk along the beach after dinner then went to teh bar to watch the fire dancers. Was really amazing, never seen anything like it in my life. They had a fire limbo - which even I did (Dave can you send me those photos). After the fire the dj kicked in and me, Nikki and Laura ended up in the sea dancing like crazy people... immense! Hee hee.
Laura was pretty tired so we went back to the room, I couldn't sleep so just lied in the hammock listening to the last set when the power went down for 30 secs, was so funny, you could here everyone on the beach all moan then cheer when it came back on. Tate walked past and said hi and then we ended up sitting on the balcony chatting and drinking buckets.... again! Also met Colin and Paul who were staying a few doors down. Colin owns the Game bar up the road and invited us to the 8th birthday tomorrow night. Bed around 5:30am.... so glad don't have to get up early!
Day 14 - Wednesday 8th August
Free day today.... so didn't get up til very late, clearly needed my sleep after last night. Although I wasn't the only one to sleep in, so did the girls, bumped into them at brunch. It was raining really heavily all morning... but we were determind to lay on the beach, come rain or shine. At 11am it seemed to clear up, lied on the beach for few hours, swam in the sea, Nikki played frisbe with Colin. I spent 2 hours writing my Central Thailand blog then the computer crashed and I lost it all.... was not very happy! Had a nap after dinner - all that lying on the beach tires a girl out! Woke up at 10pm and went out to meet Jan and Dave at the Dolphin bar down the beach, had a few drinks there then went up to the game bar. The girls decided not to come out so it was just the three of us. Was dancing all night, stuck to beer for most of the night though, had had my fill of buckets! Although there were a few tequillas... hee hee! Danced with Mickey for a while, he was really sweet, nice guy. By 4am I had given in and was drinking tequilla buckets with Colin and Paul.... then Colin and Mickey had a few words... shortly by a power cut and everyone leaving. The rest is well, for me to know and for you not to (unless you are Jan or Dave that is!). Went to bed at 7am!
Day 15 - Thursday 9th August
Well I felt like crap when I woke up! I am really no good on 1 hours sleep, especially when I know that I've got to travel for 3 hours on boats and songthaews! Left Pen's just after 10am. By the time we got to the pier I wasn't to well, Dave carried my bag for me! Pure Gent! Sat in the VIP lounge upsairs for an extra 20Baht - but worth it! The sea was pretty rocky and I hadn't eaten yet.... was very pleased to arrive at Koh Tao and have the option of a air con bungalow! I went to sleep while the girls went into town. Met everyone for dinner later on, the weather was really bad, monsoon rains and gail force winds.... on a tiny island! Went for a couple of drinks in Cave bar then back to bed!
Day 16 - Friday 10th August
Went out snorkelling today, the boat wasn't what we were expecting... it was a long tail boat! 11 of us fit on, somehow! The first spot wasn't very clear so we went onto the second site, which was much better, loads of beautiful fish. As soon as we were back in the boat the Aussie women (Michelle) was sick over the side of the boat... glad I was back in the boat, although the fish loved it! The third spot was at a 5star resort on the other side of the island, had lunch there too and headed back for our bungalows.
Day 17 - Saturday 11th August
Was on the SeaTran ferry by 9:30am going over to Koh Samui, didn't really want to leave Koh Tao, but at least Laura and I were coming back. The ferry was really nice, lounge seats, tables and plasma tv. Got to Samui pretty quickly (I slept on the ferry), and jumped on transfer to Sandy Resort. The Aussie had a bag stolen on the ferry... that'll teach them! The room was beautiful.... just like a 4 star resort. Had group lunch then lazed on the beach for the afternoon. Although the beach wasn't exactly like the others we'd been used to.... it was kinda like being back in Turkey - very touristy! Had a on the beach massage for 300 Baht then sat in the jacuzzi with Dave, Jan and Laura discussing Decadance Island. Went to Ark bar for dinner on Chaweng Beach - Was horrible! Like Tenerife!!! The bar itself was ok but the strip was nasty, guys walking teh street with gibbons and snakes trying to get you to take them so they can take photos and charge you a fortune! I think Samui is best done 4 or 5 star and avoiding this area altogether! Went to see the ladyboy show but as it was the Queens Birthday it wasn't on, so we got some beers and went back to the resort and chatted by the pool and had an early-ish night.
Day 18 - Sunday 12th August
Early brekkie and speed boat transfer to Ang Thong National Marine Park. The Aussies came even though she is badly sea sick and doesn't snorkel! The boat was cool, went snorkelling in the park, was really beautiful, saw an Octopus hiding in the coral too, wish I'd had a camera with me! Really excited about my Padi course now! Jan came in snorkelling too.... she had a bad fish phobia but faced it and overcame it! So impressive! Good on you Jan! Dried off and layed on the front of the boat sunbathing for a while. Then went to a desserted island for lunch... wow it was stunning! Had wild monkeys in the trees (went Gibbon hunting with Nan - Narrack (cute)), the crew prepared a thai bbq lunch - was awesome! Took loads of photos. Went back to the resort to shill some more - as if that was possible! I caught up on some more sleep, went I woke up I found out that Jan and Dave were coming back to Koh Tao to do there Padi too!
Went to a restaurant on Bo Phut ( the beach we were staying at), great food although we were more interested in the cocktail happy hour! Tried most on the menu between us! Hee hee! As it got later Dave and I started to get anxious as the England vs France match was on at 11:30pm and we went in search of a bar showing it! There weren't any! Checke on the net too.... not being shown in our rooms, at any of the bars, which left us with one option - live internet feed! But it didn't work so we ended up reading the 1 minute updated text commentary! Fun! Went to bed straight after... England lost!
Day 19 - Monday 13th August
Last day of the Intrepid tour, so sad to say goodbye to Nan, she was great. Hopefully she'll become a primary teacher like she wants to. Wrote her a note from us all. The sisters changed their plans after we had gone to Chaweng Beach and saw where they were meant to be staying.... so they came back to Koh Tao with the four of us. Took the Lomprayha this time though.... even nicer still!
Sak from Sucba Junction picked us up from the pier and took us to SJ to meet our instructor Dave and to sort our accommodation out. We choose the bungalows up the hill.... mistake, we should have gone for the more expensive one near the beach.... then we wouldn't have been sharing our room with a rather large and noisey Geko!
Started the Padi course that evening, watched a couple of videos and did a bit of theory and the basics... then had dinner and did our homework. Went for a quiet drink at Brother Bar (on crossroads).... I had a woo woo - first one since being away.
Day 20 - Tuesday 14th August
1st day of diving... had breakfast at am amazing bakery on the corner near Choppers... pain au chocolat and iced coffee. Had morning of theory and more videos then intro to the equipment before going out by a long tail to the dive boat, Manta Ray. Was really busy on the boat, spent the afternoon doing skills in the shallows then our 1st open water dive. I had no problems which shocked me, fell inlove with it pretty much straight away. Got back and met up with the girls and had dinner at Sairee Cottage, happy hour again! Then went to a bar to finish our homework then bed.
Day 21 - Wednesday 15th August
Today was the same as yesterday really, morning of theory followed by afternoon of skills and a dive. Had dinner at Flower, a restaurant that was a favourite of the girls. Did a bit of shopping after dinner then had a farewell drink with the girls as they were going home the following day.
Day 22 - Thursday 16th August
Last day of the Padi course - so looking forward to today! Had to get the exam out of the way first thing then out on the water for final 2 dives. Had a sleep between the exam and dives.... missed lunch as overslept so grabbed a sugar fix then out onto boat. The sea was pretty choppy so we had to go to the pier and climb across 6 other boats to get to ours! Had two great dives, got the skills out of the way early so we could have fun on the dives. Saw some beautiful fish and even saw a blue spotted Manta Ray. After we got back (via pier and pick up) Laura and I walked up to bungalow.... side tracked by the shops!
Had dinner with our instructor Dave, his wife and little girl, Lanta and Camilla (training for her divemaster) at Maya. Really great restaurant on Sairee beach. Went to Choppers for drinks after.... Camilla told us all about her dive experiences and 'Mummy and daddy'! hee hee! Although none of us stayed late as Laura and I had to catch ferries in the morning. Said our goodbyes to Jan and Dave, although I know I'll be seeing them both again - life long friends!
Day 23 - Friday 17th August
Up early to finish packing, last shower with our geko friend! Sak picked us up and took us down to the office to sign out and say bye to Dave and the guys, then onto teh pier to catch our ferries. Ferry was on time for a change and the journey was painless and arrived in Samui easily, jumped on my transfer and went to airport.
Queued at check-in only to find out it was domestic only, so had to get a bus to international (basically a second hut at other end of runway!). Was waiting at the airport for my flight to Singapore quite some time.... and there really isn't anything to do there! The plane was tiny, less than 100 seats but was close to full. I slept and read my book the whole way. Got to Singapore excited to see Cath, her flight had been delayed though so waited in arrivals for her.
End of my Thailand adventure.... for now at least! Xx
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