Probably my last blog entry, from Thailand anyway!

I’ve had a really good week here in Koh Tao, after a horrendous journey…The bus I booked kept stopping and actually stopped for around 45 minutes before we were even out of Bangkok, we finally set off again and I got ready to have a snooze when the couple next to me decided to play their German comedy dvds a bit too loud. So I turned my iPod up a bit and got comfy, when the bus driver decided to share Dolly Parton with us, full blast! I had to pick the seat right under the speaker too, didn’t I?! Eventually Dolly was sacked and they put a film on instead, again a bit too loud, so I decided to admit defeat and just watch it, it helped me get to sleep! Then, after a couple more hours we stopped at a road side cafe for an hour. Then, after what felt like 5 minutes, we stopped at another road side cafe for another hour, by which time I wasn’t the only one getting ratty. We were then told that we were waiting for some more people to get on and would then get back on the bus for 10 minutes to get to the pier where we would then wait for another hour for the boat. When we eventually got the boat (At this point it’s about 7am, I got on the bus at 5.30pm the previous day!) we got straight on and left straight away, I was so glad to get to Koh Tao!

It’s absolutely gorgeous here, the weather was great the first day I got here, then slowly got worse, and worse, and now it’s raining – all the time! We had a spectacular thunder and lightning storm last night and so between the noise of that and the rain on the roof we got very little sleep! Luckily I splashed out on a pair of ear plugs on one of my first days here as the fan in our room is so noisy, but I didn’t think I’d need them anymore as the fan broke the other night, thankfully I didn’t throw them out!

I spent my first couple of days here just wandering around as Lindsey was doing her diving and videography courses, there’s a few nice shops and plenty of places to eat and drink so I got on just fine! I went for a dip in the sea too, and it really was like a bath! I’m glad I went for a swim when I did as I haven’t really had a chance since due to the weather.

By Friday I was at a bit of a loose end so ended up booking myself on to a “Discover Scuba Diving” course for the following day. There’s so many places to choose from here but I decided to go with the one that our resort offers. I went to meet my instructor at 9.30am on Saturday, I waited and waited but he didn’t show up, and when he did show up it was pretty safe to say he’d been partying the night before, and so he got sent home. I was assured that someone else would be with me shortly and so I waited some more, and then was told to come back at 12.30pm, so I went for another wander and then went back to meet my instructor – the same one who had been sent away earlier! So we set off on the boat with all the other people from other courses and it was on the boat that he went over all the stuff (safety, equipment, skills etc.) that we were meant to do in the pool that morning! So we got to the dive site and jumped in, I was expected to remember all the stuff he told me but I’ve since decided that’s like telling someone how to drive a car, handing them the keys and telling them to get on with it! So of course I didn’t remember everything, in fact I remembered nothing and panicked a tiny wee bit when we started going under the water and I forgot I had breathing gear. Eventually I got the hang of it and absolutely loved it, it was like being in a giant aquarium and was so much better than I was ever expecting it to be, I thought I’d maybe see a few fish and some coral but I saw thousands of fish, it was amazing.

On Sunday I went to Jamahkiri Spa, a posh spa on the other side of the island, for a bit of pampering. It was also amazing! I started with a herbal steam room, then an aloe body wrap, apple facial and thai massage, followed by a pot of white tea while sat overlooking the sea, all that at a very reasonable price too!

Monday it was raining! Lindsey and I were stuck for something to do (there’s very little to do here when it’s raining, especially once you’ve done the spas and the diving!) so ended up going for a wander, another massage and then for a look in some tattoo shops! We both really wanted a bamboo tattoo but neither of us could decide what to go for so didn’t bother.

Today (Tuesday) it hasn’t stopped raining! We asked the people in the restaurant of our resort if they would play some movies during the day and they showed us upstairs to the loft where they were allowing us free run of the dvd player. So off we went (with our emergency ponchos on) to buy some dvds……..but because of the rain, all the dvd shops were shut! We were both gutted, and miffed, surely it’s when it’s raining that people (like us!) are going to want to buy dvds?! The shop next door eventually opened and we purchased one that was supposedly a comedy, though it failed to make us chuckle so it was promptly ejected and binned.

So now we’re going to head back to the room to start packing! I’m going to be ruthless and throw out as much as I can, I’m getting the bus back to Kao San Road tomorrow where I’ll hopefully pick up some last minute bargains! I’m so tempted to buy a suitcase and just fill that, we’ll see!

Unfortunately, I don’t have that many exciting pictures to attach. My camera has been playing up again so I managed to get the new pictures on to cd and have since been using my spare camera, but discovered tonight that (I think) I left the cable for the spare one in another internet shop and so can’t get them on to the pc! I’ve been an absolute disaster with technology since getting here!

So, this time tomorrow I’ll be in Bangkok and it’ll be my last night in Thailand! I’ve had a great time, though there have been highs and lows (blisters!), I’m so pleased to have met so many nice people, in particular Lindsey and the crazy Belgians and am so glad I’ve had this experience, though I have to admit I’m looking forward to getting home!

This is probably my last blog, if it is, thanks to everyone who has been following it and for all your comments, it’s been such a good way to keep in touch!

See you all very soon!

Emma x

* It now doesn’t look like I’m getting any pics on at all, the pc doesn’t want to upload them so will have to just try again tomorrow!

Sorry this has taken so long, my camera has been playing up again!…

Charlotte, myself and 2 American hippies we picked up along the way left Kanchanaburi to get the bus to Ayutthaya on the morning of 12th October (Monday I think!), we were hoping to spend the day in Ayutthaya then get the night train to Chiang Mai but it didn’t work like that!…….

We got to a guest house who were willing to look after our bags for us so that we could do a tour of Ayutthaya as we were short of time, and the lady there phoned around for train tickets for us, but the train was full! We then found a travel agent who had a bus service, 10 hours on a bus! I really didn’t want to do it but had no option, I only had 2 days in Chiang Mai as it was so really needed to get there, ended up not doing the tour though as I was scared it would be delayed and I’d miss the bus, the others didn’t mind though as they’re travelling for a while and so were considering staying in Ayutthaya anyway. So, alone and armed with my out of date Rough Guide to Thailand book, I waved them off on their tour and went to book the bus. I wasn’t alone for long though and ended up going for diner with an American girl called Ginger who was also heading to Chiang Mai, on the train though! So, got the bus, and so did the others in end, the journey was fine, I had 2 reclining chairs to myself and slept just about the whole way so it went quite quickly.

Once there, the bus took us to accommodation called “Nice Place Guest House” I have no idea why they called it that because it certainly wasn’t. We ended up checking in anyway as it was the easy option but as soon as we got in to the 4-bed dorm I knew it was a mistake and planned on making my exit later, the Belgian guys I met in Kanchanaburi were on their way….

So we went for breakfast, but being the only meat eater among 3 vegetarians proved to be a problem. They really wanted to find a veggie cafe and so we trailed about for around an hour looking for one, passing so many nice places with vegetarian options on the menu (this is all after a 10 hour bus journey – argh!!), I was just about to send them on their way and go and get a big bacon roll when we found a place, not a vegetarian place, but a place they were settling for anyway! So we ordered breakfast and hippy #1 started meditating over his muesli, feeling the energy from it or something, I don’t know, so at that point I went to the travel agents next door and booked tickets for the next leg of my journey, Bangkok to Koh Tao. When I got back, they were gone and I decided not to try too hard to find them again!

NB. Can I just point out that I have nothing against vegetarians (I have dabbled in vegetarianism once or twice myself) or hippies but these guys were just tooooooo much!

I was having a wander when the Belgians (Dieter, Tommy and Steven) called to say they were here, so I went to see them in their accommodation, Julie Guest House, which is the place I wanted to stay in in the first place! They had one room left, sharing with one other guy, so I took it. I then went back to not so “Nice Place” and checked out again, still having to pay for the nights accommodation, I was annoyed at first but when I converted in to pounds I was okay, it was just over one (there is no pound sign on these machines)! So I checked in to Julie Guest House and then went for dinner with the Belgians and some Swedish girls, it was such a laugh. Once back, we bought some beer and sat on the roof of the guest house where they had big cushions, hammocks and mattresses for chilling out on, it was great!

Dinner with the Belgian guys and Swedish girls.

The following day (Sunday 14th I think!) the Belgians and I hired motorbikes to do a tour of the city, though being the wimp that I am (but possibly being quite sensible too) I didn’t take one myself and instead sat on the back of Dieters the whole time, I’m glad I did as he was very entertaining! He was singing all the way, hits including “Three White Mice” (his own version of Three Blind Mice) and “Supercalifragilistic…….”

Biking in Chaing Mai, I was with Dieter (middle).

First stop was the Butterfly and Orchid Farm which was lovely, then the snake farm where they took great pleasure in winding me up, it took a lot of courage for me to look in to the alligator pit, and when I did one of them grabbed my ankle pretending to be something biting me!

Dieter and Tommy being arty at the orchid farm.

After a wander round the farm they had a snake show with cobras and other deadly snakes, I sat right at the back! After the snake farm we carried on along the road and up a big winding hill where at one point I had to get off and walk because the bike couldn’t cope with both of us! We then came across a bunch of kids playing football by the river, they were so sweet! Tommy and Steven ended up joining in on the game while Dieter and I took lots of pictures! When we were leaving they ran after us, right up to the side of the road and were waving and blowing kisses, it was like something out of a movie! The guys are hoping to go back with a new football for them!

Football with the local kids.

That night we went to the night market, it was amazing! So huge and so much to buy but as I was having to carry everything, I couldn’t buy much! They had these big spider keyrings which again, the Belgians kept winding me up with, swines! They then bought some food from the local delicacy stall……..

Steven

……while I stuck with the veggie noodles. However, I wasn’t off the hook, and later was bullied in to trying one myself! I eventually agreed to do it but everytime I got it close to my mouth and saw it up close I wimped out! Eventually with much encouragement and hassle, I did it! And I have to say, it wasn’t actually that bad, salty and crispy! Though I’m not in any rush to have them again! I knew people wouldn’t believe me when I told them so while Steven took a video on my camera, Dieter took a picture on his but I need to wait for him to email that to me! I can prove it!!!

We all left Julie’s Guest House at 10am the following day, they were heading to Pai while I had a taxi booked for the airport – I decided a one hour flight to Bangkok was going to be far more enjoyable than another 10 hour bus journey, plus I didn’t want to waste another day travelling when I have so little time left here. It was really sad leaving them but I have been invited to Antwerp anytime and they’re threatening to come to Scotland too – Beware!!!

One last thing – to answer a couple of comments -

Jamie – the Mozzies are like midges with not only attitude, but on steroids too! Bites are much better now, thankfully!

Uncle David – modes of transport I have been on or in in the past month include a Mini Cooper, 4 planes, buses, tuk tuks, songthaews, a motorbike, a bicycle, a catamaran, ferries and elephants!

Hopefully the next, and probably last, instalment will be with you soon!

Emma x

Rescued pictures of Kanchanaburi…

The River Kwai!

The bridge over the River Kwai.

Elephant riding in Kanchanaburi.

Elephant bathing.

The amazing Erawan Waterfall.

Just took my card in to a camera shop in Chiang Mai and they m anaged to get all my missing pictures on to cd!…

Me, Kate (the South African girl who knew a girl I was in college with!) and Charlotte on Kao San Road.

The Grand Palace

Demons Guarding the Palace.

The lovely outfit they lent me!

Hello,

Have been in Kanchanaburi for the past 4 days, we were originally only going to stay for 2 but changed that as soon as we got here, it’s great! Our accommodation is lovely (Jolly Frog Backpackers), we’ve each got our own room for 70Baht (a pound!) a night, there’s a lawn with deck chairs and hammocks and a raft on the River Kwai! We sat on the raft on the first night drinking the local rice wine and watching the karaoke boat go past! It was so lovely.

On Tuesday we went to the Thailand Burma Railway Centre which was excellent but really sad, then we took a Songthaew (a pick up with 2 benches in the back) to the railway (Death Railway/Bridge over the river Kwai) and did the ultimate tourist thing of taking a trip in the train over the bridge!

Wednesday we got a bus to the Erawan Waterfall which is a huge waterfall with 7 stages, on geting to the 2nd Lindsey and I decided to go for a swim and were about to jump in when someone told us the fish bite! So we sat on a log for about 10 minutes arguing over who was going to go first, then eventually jumped in together! Someone also told us that if you keep moving the fish won’t get you so after about 2 minutes, we were exhausted! Anyway, they were lying, the fish didn’t bite, they just try and suck you! Lindsey got one but I managed to avoid them! After our swim we carried on up to the next levels and were almost at Level 5 when it started pouring down! We decided to be on the safe side and head straight back down, but by the time we were back at the bus we were soaked through, as were the contents of our bags! Poor Lindsey’s passport got wet and her stamps have washed off so she’s going to have to go to the embassy, hopefully she’ll get it sorted okay!

Today (Thursday) Charlotte and I went Elephant riding! I wasn’t sure at first as I wanted to be sure they were happy and well cared for, they seemed to be, so it was fun. We just went on a short trek then in to the river where the elephants go right under the water, taking you with them! Then mine decided to spray me with water from his trunk! This afternoon Lindsey left to go to Bangkok to then catch the bus and boat to Koh Tao, so Charlotte and I sat in the sun then I went to my room for a wee snooze! When I woke up it was absolutely pouring down again! It’s bizarre weather here!

We’re catching an early bus to Ayuthaya tomorrow for the day then geting the sleeper train up to Chaing Mai which I’m looking forward to, Charlotte os going to spend a few weeks there then go to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and I’m going to come back down and joing Lindsey on the island for the last of my holiday! It’s going so quickly!

Apologies for the lack of photos, my camera (actually my sisters camera – sorry Julie!) has decided to stop working today so all my pics of Kanchanaburi are no more! In fact, all my pics are no more! Luckily some are on here but I think the rest are beyond saving which I’m pretty gutted about, Lindsey has a lot of the same pictures as me though so I’ll hopefully be able to get some off her. I’ve had a wee spell of bad luck since being here, it turns out I’m allergic to mosquitoes and come up in a big blister whenever I get bitten so my legs are covered in plasters at the moment and I’m on a combination of mosquito coils, extremely strong repellent, wipes and garlic tablets in a bid to stop them eating me! I thought they were sick of me in the pharmacy in Bangkok but they’re seeing much more of me here! This is just after the swollen ankles and sunburn have gone! Then yesterday my phone broke so I had to go and buy a new one, even though I’m due a free upgrade at home! I’m sure it’ll turn around soon! I’m still smiling and having a great time though, despite it all!

I have another camera with me (luckily!!) so I’ll hopefully get some more pics on soon!

Keep your fingers crossed for me and my blisters!

Emma x

Got to Kao San Road yesterday evening, after a rather pleasant bus journey (compared to the last one anyway!) ,everyone was shocked to hear I had spent 2 and a half days in Bangkok and hadn’t been here, I can see why! It’s stalls the whole way down, selling pretty much everything imaginable, it’s so hard to not buy anything! I’m planning on buying a bigger bag when I come back here for my flight home! There’s also some pretty incredible sights, not to mention the ladyboys!

Once here we checked in to a hostel then headed out for some food with a South African girl (Kate) we’d met on the way. Here we go again……..Kate asked where abouts in Scotland I was from and did I know anyone from East Kilbride, I said I knew a few but she didn’t know the names I mentioned, then she told me about 2 girls she’d spent quite a lot of time with in Australia……..one of them was Kirsty, a girl I was in college with!! It’s crazy!!

After dinner we went for a couple of drinks and ended up bumping in to some people who had stayed at the same place as us in Koh Samet so joined them for another couple…. It was a really good, but late, night!

We were up early today as Charlotte and I wanted to go to the Grand Palace, once there we were directed to reception where they very kindly lent us some clothes to cover our shoulders and knees.

Despite the image-wrecking attire, it was a really good day, Charlotte was a great person to go with as she’s a fountain of knowlegde! The palace is based around the emerald buddha which is quite small but sits upon a shrine that would make Elton John feel bland. Unfortunately, no cameras allowed in that bit so I can’t show you what I’m talking about!

After the palace, we bought some noodles from a street vendor and planned to take a ferry trip on the river but it was getting too complicated (people trying to make us take trips on long tailed boats/the fact that the ferry only actually goes across the river and not up and down it) so instead we wandered back to Kao San Road where I picked up a few (essential) bargains then got ready to go out again.

It’s now nearly midnight here and we’re getting up early again tomorrow to catch the bus to Kochanaburi, so I should really sign off now!

Unfortunately this pc doesn’t seem to want to upload my photos so they’ll just have to wait til next time!…

Emma x

Just a quick one today, the pc I’m on is being really slow and annoying, and I’m hungry!

It’s been a great few days here, and so good to meet Lyndsey etc., we’ve been having much fun, sunbathing, swimming and treating ourselves to massages on the beach! The weather has been great, especially today, though I got a bit burnt! Atleast I have a bit of colour though and no longer stick out like a sore thumb!

I got a bit of a fright last night as I was sitting on my balcony writing my diary and chatting to my neighbour (Jim!) when everything shut down, the lights went off, all noise stopped, fans off etc. etc. and it started pouring down! It was pitch black so, being the wimp that I am, I made Jim stay where he was until I found my torch (thank you, Dad, for suggesting I take the torch!)!

A couple of people have been asking me how the food is, well it’s good! I had amazing noodles off of a street stall in Bangkok (and struggled to eat them with chopsticks!) and my favourite dish here has been the Pad Thai, noodles with vegetables and chicken, eaten with chopsticks too, I’m getting better at it! I haven’t been that adventurous so far but don’t think I can even pretend I’m going to eat a chickens foot! The fruit is amazing, fresh pineapple on the beach for breakfast today and watermelon yesterday, I also tried a dragon fruit today, they look great (bright pink) and taste not too bad too!

I haven’t taken many pictures since my last blog but have attached one of Noi, a guy who works at our accommodation, with his puppies (awwwww!) and one of the beach from today. I’m still going to try and get a pic of the wee girl, Enke, but she’s not about just now!

Noi and puppies!

Koh Samet beach

This is our last night here, tomorrow Lyndsey, Charlotte, Rob and I are heading back to Bangkok for the night, Rob’s then going home and we’re going up to Kochanaburi to the death railway/bridge over the river Kwai. Zim is staying here for a bit longer but we’lll perhaps meet up later in the month!

Thanks again for all your comments, is always good to hear from everyone!

Emma x

I met a guy called Rob from Jersey just after I did my blog yesterday and we got chatting, I ended up joining him and his friend, Lindsey for dinner and drinks. Lindsey was asking where abouts in Scotland I’m from and I said Argyll, she said she had family in “Loch…gilp…head, or something like that” !!! Can you believe it?! We couldn’t! She’s second cousin to the Sinclairs (Lillia, Peter, Fergus), it was so weird! We ended up having a great night, talking about Lochgilphead, being gobsmacked and drinking cocktails on the beach with a man doing a fire show behind us, was just so idyllic!

Lindsey, Rob and me with a cocktail bucket on the beach!

The fire show!

Lollipop and Dave! Our friendly bar staff.

Today I met up with Lindsey, Rob and Charlotte (from Sweden) and hit the beach! Was so good, I’ve been looking forward to swimming and sunbathing for ages! We’ve just had dinner and will probably have a beer later! Rob and I were in swimming when we spotted a dog on the beach, lifting his leg on someone’s rucsack! It was funny, though had it been our bags I’m not sure we would have laughed so much! The owner of the bag was in the water too so couldn’t do anything! I really like it here but not sure if I’ll stay much longer, I have the option to but Charlotte is going to go to the bridge over the river Kwai and I’d really like to go there too, she’s travelling on her own and would like someone to go with her so we’ll see! So many options!

One of the many dogs here, possibly the cutest one though!

Lindsey and me, can you tell which one of us is from Scotland?!

I have a tiny wee thai girl (about one or 2 years old I think) beside me now, she’s so cute! We were playing “Boo” yesterday, I’ll try and get a picture of her before I go!

Thank you all for your comments, it’s great to hear from everyone and I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog!

Emma x

Hello,

Left Bangkok at 7 am today to catch the metro to the T.A.T (Travel and Tourism, pic below) office where we were catching the bus to Ban Phe, the little fishing village I was talking about.

After a 2 hour wait a shiny Mercedes mini bus pulled up asking us if we were going to ban Phe, we said we were and almost jumped on when the TAT man came out pointing down the street “Your bus…”

- a clapped out old banger (above!), packed full too! We said there was no room but they plonked us in the front with the crazy driver! So our journey to Ban Phe began, and after seconds (and a near miss with a taxi, along with the driver speaking to someone on his mobile phone while trying to read a map, steering with his elbow!) a passenger was pleading with him to go less than 100 km per hour. At that moment I put my iPod on, shut my eyes and hoped for the best! After 3ish long hours we arrived at Ban Phe, I was gutted! It was supposed to be a pretty wee fishing village but was the tackiest place I’ve ever seen! Being open minded and thinking that there would be nice bits we went for a wander to find accommodation, a man showed us to a room that I can only describe as looking like something out of a horror film! Zim kept chatting to the guy but I was out of there, refusing to stay not only in the hotel, but not even in the town! Luckily, we were in time for a boat to Koh Samet, an island off of Ban Phe so we hopped on that!

While on the boat we got talking to a tattoo artist who gave us tips on how to get to the beach without going through the park (400 Baht to get through the park and apparently there’s not much there!), he didn’t ask for anything in return but we thought it was only polite to go to his shop for a beer (no tattoos!)! After that we found our way to the beach, (round the outside of the park, below) -

(passing a nice monk who sold me a coin which apparently will make me happy! I didn’t know monks did street vending but there you go!), my shoes were off straight away, I was so glad to get some sand between my toes and a paddle in the (warm) sea!

We walked along the beach a bit until we came to a mermaid statue on rocks then knew to look for the accommodation sign (recommended by our tattooist friend).

The accommodation is great, we have a bungalow each for 200 Baht a night (about 3 pounds!), it’s exactly what you should be staying in on a beach in Thailand!

I’m off to grab some food now, then an early night! I was up at 6.30 this morning didn’t go to bed til 2! I’m looking forward to getting a good sleep and being fresh in the morning for a swim and some sun bathing!

Emma x

Well, this is the last of Bangkok for me (until the airport anyway!)! It’s been good! Today Zim was watching the Grand Prix so I decided to go for a wander…….and got lost! I thought I knew exactly where I was, but no! I wasn’t too worried though, I bought some fresh pineapple from a street vendor and sauntered around in the sun, knowing that I’d find my way back eventually! The good thing is the sky train runs along above the street we’re staying on so it wasn’t too hard to get back! When I did finally get back on to the right street, I came out at a big shopping centre (fate?) so spent a while in there, I didn’t buy much and decided to head back to the hostel. Again, thinking I was going in the right direction, I walked, and walked, and walked and so on until I came to a sign saying Soi 49, we’re on Soi 25! I was thinking I was seeing an awful lot of things I didn’t recognise! So anyway, being on Soi 49 I had to work out which way the hostel was, so I had to keep walking and it was when I saw Soi 52 (the ones in between were’nt signposted!) that I knew the only thing to do was turn around! I walked for what felt like miles and was only at Soi 43 so, with the help of a very nice guard, I jumped on the sky train back to where I was meant to be! What an adventure (I haven’t told my mum this yet, she’ll be grey!)!

Once back, I grabbed some food at the cafe next to the hostel and Zim and I headed down to Lumphini on the metro. There’s a huge street bazaar here (I’m in an internet cafe in Lumphini now) and I managed to get a few bargains! Everyone tries to entice you, I try to avoid making eye contact! It’s all so cheap but you’ve got to haggle, though sometimes you don’t need to, I was looking at something earlier (I can’t say what it is as it’s a present for someone reading this!), they told me the price and I said I’d maybe come back, so of course the price dropped and I made my purchase! I bought something yesterday too that had a price tag of 2290B, I got it for 400B because I genuinely didn’t have any more than that in my purse, must remember that one!

I’m going to head back to the hostel soon as we have an early start tomorrow, we’re getting the bus to Bam Phe (or something like that!) which is a little fishing village south (I think!) of Bangkok, it’ll be great to get out of the smog and in to the sea!

No pics today I’m afraid, I haven’t really taken that many plus I don’t think the pc I’m on is trustworthy enough to attach my camera to it! I’ll hopefully be able to find another internet cafe before long,

Emma x