Bangkok (again)

Have barely had internet access since the last entry, and little time to update so there's certainly a lot to catch up on (essentially half of Thailand, all of Cambodia and Vietnam - so three countries in total). Currently in Bangkok staying for a night in the same hostel as before (Lub D), and have already encountered a funny story in the taxi driver from the airport to here, who, upon discovering I was from England, exclaimed 'Oh, London! Very dangerous!' with added arm movements, possibly trying to convey fighting. He got so enthusiastic in his mime that he momentarily forgot about the steering wheel, which could have had interesting circumstances in Bangkok morning traffic. Going to check out the emerald buddha now, but on that note - please, everyone back home stay safe! All of the reports of violence are extremely worrying, take care of yourselves, until next time. x x x

moving on from koh samui

Off to Phucket today via bus and boat, which should be an experience in itself.

Last night we headed out to Ark Bar with our new friends Ilke and Chris, a couple from Melbourne. Needless to say we were tired after the full moon party so we enjoyed a nice and chilled out evening. The journey there from the hotel was probably the most eventful part of the evening, with the three of us (Ilke steering, Hannah with the helmet on at the back and me in the middle) huddled on to the same motorbike clinging on for dear life.

Some memories from our brief time in Koh Samui: Our first (confessional, drunken) night in the Shakespeare bar, honking at the lady boys/prostitutes on our roundabout motorcycle journey; meeting Australians at the Ark bar and talking about Melbourne, receiving a free round on a jet ski through Hannah's flirting skills (it was well worth it).

full moon

Oh my. Full moon party. There's not a lot more that needs to be said, particularly as neither of us can fully remember it anyway.

After a much needed day of lounging, sunning and aimless wondering, we both arrived at Koh Samui port in a minibus, and were ready for take off, armed with body paint and bacardi breezers and a very healthy last minute meal of a packet of crisps to line our stomachs. The photos will speak for themselves, and will speak infinitely more than any of this can. I originally asked the body paint artists at the port to cover the top of my face, but it soon turned into an epic elongation of dots all the way down to my boobs. It was the first time I had drank anything in a very long time, and a sweaty rave where thousands of people flock to every month with a potential death risk naturally seemed like the most sensible and viable idea. We had already met plenty of people in our travels who were going to be there and had made plans to meet up, but the actual event is just so huge and so few people are aware of what's going on that all of these plans disseminated.

Snapshot memories: Bumping into Jessi Liddle (girl in our year at school who we hadn't seen for five years) of all people (cue lots of screaming and hugging and 'BAH THIS IS SO WEIRD', because it was pretty surreal), meeting Matt the adrenalin junkie from Perth and Cedric the Texan soldier (we spent most the evening with them), Hannah's riding a motorcycle (not actually driving it); the coveted Beyonce shirt dress, losing/spending all of our money, riding the fire slide (not as bad or scary as it sounds), watching the fire dancers, breathers and jump ropers (Matt and Cedric went and jumped the fire rope - 'Oh no it's orright mate it just smells of gasoline'), and chugging god-knows-how-many vodka red bull buckets (n.b. buckets).

Overall, it was bloody brilliant and all of our inhibitions and fears about it being dangerous seemed to fly out of the window upon arrival. As of now, Hannah is on a jet ski, and this evening we're going out with our new gay best friends from Melbourne who live two doors down. Over and out.

generic first entry

Yes, so, like a true traveler, I'm embracing all of the cliches and have started a blog. All that's left to do is get a regrettable tattoo, find a new religion, and get some sort of tropical disease (updates as such will be posted here). 

Last night we arrived in Koh Samui after a stressful day of travelling involving last minute airport transfers and an overly persistent taxi driver who tried to rip us off/take us anywhere other than we wanted to go. It's pretty miraculous to have arrived here at all last night, but this hotel and the creature comforts associated with it made it worthwhile! There's plenty to catch up on from our time in Chiang Mai with Sarah Jane (cockroach incident, accent competitions with a Californian, elephant rides, and cycling along a Thai motorway) but it will have to wait for later. Hannah is soaking up some sun by the poolside/beach, and I'm in the hotel room about to have a shower. We're sleeping in a four poster, which, after a week of hostel beds and a day like yesterday, was met with much excitement (hysteria, jumping up and down, screaming) last night. We also went out for a few drinks down the road before zonking out completely.

This evening we are catching a ferry to Ko Phangan for the full moon party. We probably won't remember it or survive, so it's been nice knowing you.