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02/01/08
Decided it was time to take in a bit of culture so got up early and took a walk to see what I could find. The best bet from what people were saying was a special spiritual place for Thai people named 'Big Buddha' so I headed for that. After a couple of hours walking stopped for brekkie/lunch and had a few beers, after this the monkey theatre seemed like a much better choice so I went there instead. Monkey show was very funny, the trainer obviously spent a long time making sure they all knew how to lift up girls skirts...
After this I did actually make it to Big Buddha (on the back of a moped with fearless driver). Found it to be much as described, a big statue of a Buddha next to the sea. There were a few monks around and people lighting candles and praying. I wasn't quite sure of the etiquette for big buddhas so stayed back and watched. After 30 mins of spiritual elightenment I met up with my brummie mates and went to the main resort on Koh Samui - Chewang Beach. This place is packed with english tourists, people trying to sell you suits and english/irish theme pubs. Bit like Malaga or Tenneriffe. We stayed out for a few drinks but went back around 1 as had a long day of travelling ahead.
03/01/08
My air conditioned bus tickets to the speedboat amounted to a ride on the back of a pick up truck to the ferry 2 hours after I was supposed to leave. 6 other people on the truck all as confused as me, as far as transport goes you just have to do what the locals say and hold on tight! When we get back to the mainland I get chatting to a guy from Manchester who has been in Thailand for 5 months working. He told me a few of the cons, every restaurant has writing in Thai on the menu that tells you foreign travellers will get charged twice as much as locals! But then again you are paying 80p for a meal instead of 40p, so can't compain too much.
There are now 4 of us all with the same tickets to Bangkok, so the transport people take me and two others (after an hour and a half waiting) and leave the other guy at the travel office. He drives us to the bus station, shouts at the people on the desk for 30 mins, comes out and drives us to s shop where he picks up some beer and fags. Drinking on the way he stops for a smoke in the petrol station then has some food while we wait. Then drives us to the middle of nowhere and drops the other two off with a few other backpackers, I'm not allowed to get off here though. He takes me to a bus parked in an alley that's full of Thai people, points at it, tells me to get out and drives off. There aren't any seats left so I spend the next 8 hours on the baggage rack next to the toilet, there is one more backpacker from Holland who has to sit on the stairs. I don't care how much it costs, I'm now getting taxis everywhere!
Arrive in Bangkok at 5am and head to a cafe, meeting Steve Harrey at 9 so he can tell me how to avoid the scams in Cambodia, then off to the airport to meet Liz at 11, looking forward to having some company!
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