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Well it will be three weeks tomorrow since I set off and this is my first blog entry there's obviously a lot to catch up on.
Journey to Bangkok was fine. Luckily I met Caroline on the plane who also hadn't booked anywhere to stay but she had been to Bangkok before so we travelled to Khoa San Road together which was apparently where all the backpackers head. She was great and even showed me how to get the straps out of my backpack - I finished packing about 2 minutes before I left the house (I'd prob still be packing if it wasn't for Team Choi!) and didn't get chance to practice backpacker stylee!
Khao San road was full of people and just what you need on a first night in a new city. The place I stayed was very basic and had a shared bathroom so I moved to a proper hotel in the shopping district for the next 2 nights with air con, tv showing english speaking films and my own bathroom!
I did some of the sights whilst I was in Bangkok - emerald buddha, a big buddha, a lucky buddha.... tuk tuk ride - no elephants yet though!
On the Thursday I flew to Surat Thani and met my 2 housemates - Jamie (the Londoner) and John (the Canadian). On the saturday I went with another new teacher Sam (the Texan) to Koh Pha Ngan to meet up with John and Jamie. While we were there, there was a Black Moon party (no moon at all but any excuse for a party!).
At this point I had been reacting quite badly to the mosquito bites and they'd started to turn nasty looking so I went to the doc on the beach. It was a bit scary cos the place smelt of noodles and he kept pulling syringes filled with various stuff out of his pocket! Turns out it was staph infection (?) I ended up having a blood test, aneasthetic, and 2 anti-biotic shots - £300! I then had to go to the local hospital in Surat to make sure what he had done was legit - another £50!
I have been told that it will take a couple of months to get used to the bites so I am now doing my own surgery as I have run out of money for medical fees!
The other ferang here (european foreigners) have been really friendly and there's always drinks, dinner etc going on. I'm living on a street that is full of english teachers so there's always someone to talk to.
Don't have a tan yet tho cos even tho the weather is hot (33/34) it's very overcast (I've also had bandages round various parts of my legs for the last 2 weeks).
Have started observing lessons this week and will start teaching myself next week. Monday is a bank holiday in Thailand - apparently they have loads of them, so everyone is going for it on Sunday night
Hope you are all well and thanks for all your messages - I promise I will get back to them all - it's been a bit weird with access hours but should start to settle into a routine so I can get on the internet regularly
Bye for now xxxxxx
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