June 20th:
I caught the over night bus/ferry to Koh Tao, a late bus where I met a very cute couple from Malaysia; Chan and Catrina. Very useful for me because they gae me tips for their country.Didn't sleep too well on the bus, but didn't need it: the beach to come would provide time to shut my eyes. Met a guitar player named Dan on the ferry and we hit it off straight away. As soon as we landed we booked a twin room and headed to the beach. We played guitar, making up songs and lyrics, and juggled in the waves. Bit of snorkling, bit of sleeping, (rapidly followed by a bit of sun burn) and a good boozy night out. The snorking was amazing, even only a few foot deep. Amazing.
June 21st:
Early morning, catching the 8:30 boat out snorking all around the island of Koh Tao. First stop, Shark Bay... correctly named. Before I knew it two black finned reef sharks swam by me, elegantly floating in the water. Many other great sight, and I borrowed an underwater camera case so I have a few pictures! Highlight of today: having rice thrown at us in the water and the fish swimming around us, eating it all! One fish mistook my friend Matt's nipple for a grain of rice. CRUNCH!
June 22nd
An early morning trek across the island got me to freedom beach, 3 kilometers and a leter of water away! It's a beautiful secluded area with long white snady beaches. Dan had left that morning and Matt offered to put me up for the night! Sounds good! Matt told me about a nice dutch couple he'd met who talked about a bar with a swimming pool. Sounded good so off we went. Found a pool, a bar, some sun beds, very nice. It was only 20 minutes later that we realised we were in Koh Tao Resort, the most expensive place to stay on the island... freely using the pool. we stayed another few hours. We eventually found the right place that night and spent it having all our drinks baught for us! Bonus!
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Friday, 19 June 2009
Kanchanaburi
Hi!!
Sorry it's been a while, but I've been too busy having LOADS of fun! :) lol. Just got back from a three day trip to Kanchanaburi and it was fantastic! We stayed on a hostel floating on the river in the middle of the forest! So beautiful. Went bamboo rafting down the river, riding elephants, swimming in water falls where fish nibble the dead skin off your body... really creapy at first (some of the girls couldn't handle it) but after a while it's sort of like being tickled. lol.
Really easy to find places to stay, and loving the Thai food :) No western food for me! It's really hard to say everything here in an email, I've just got too much to say! Met a whole new hoard of people in Kanchanaburi and I now have a massive list of facebook names to add :)
Going to try and put some photos online for you, see if it works.
It's all just been such an experience! I have to say though, three days in Bangkok is enough, it's all so hectic and no time or space to yourself because you're always busy and getting hastled.
Off to Koh Tao in 30min. It's an island off the east coast that has amazing beaches and scuba diving places (corals etc) and it's meant to be really chilled out (no cars!) so that's what I want right now... done enough partying. lol. Won't last too long though. Going to Koh Pangan for the black moon party and all the parties leading up to it :)
That's it for now! Up date you soon!
Ed
Sorry it's been a while, but I've been too busy having LOADS of fun! :) lol. Just got back from a three day trip to Kanchanaburi and it was fantastic! We stayed on a hostel floating on the river in the middle of the forest! So beautiful. Went bamboo rafting down the river, riding elephants, swimming in water falls where fish nibble the dead skin off your body... really creapy at first (some of the girls couldn't handle it) but after a while it's sort of like being tickled. lol.
Really easy to find places to stay, and loving the Thai food :) No western food for me! It's really hard to say everything here in an email, I've just got too much to say! Met a whole new hoard of people in Kanchanaburi and I now have a massive list of facebook names to add :)
Going to try and put some photos online for you, see if it works.
It's all just been such an experience! I have to say though, three days in Bangkok is enough, it's all so hectic and no time or space to yourself because you're always busy and getting hastled.
Off to Koh Tao in 30min. It's an island off the east coast that has amazing beaches and scuba diving places (corals etc) and it's meant to be really chilled out (no cars!) so that's what I want right now... done enough partying. lol. Won't last too long though. Going to Koh Pangan for the black moon party and all the parties leading up to it :)
That's it for now! Up date you soon!
Ed
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
First full day
Hello again!
The massage was really nice :) it was like a really good stretch before some sport... I felt really good after :) Standing really upright. It was slightly strange tho, having this Thai girl walking on you and bending you in ways I'm not used to. Lol.
Had a great day yesterday, went to the Grand Temple, and the giant reclining Buddah and then went off to the Siam aquarium in central Bangkok. Was really great because each of the places I went I met up with people and went around doing stuff with them. Barely been on my own. Lol. Then went out last night (very long night) and met two girls from Denmark, two girls from Ireland, 5 guys from Leeds, two guys from Edinborough, 6 teachers from California (coolest teachers I've ever met) and a very tall German... to name a few. So yeah, it really is that easy to meet people :)
Thinking of heading off to Kanchanaburi today instead of staying in Bangkok another night, mainly because I've seen the sights I'd be interested in and the city is so polluted and full of taxi and tuk tuk drivers hastling you all the time. It's great for a while, but I think I want to see the more rural side of this country.
I did get the bus in the end, and again, that way I got to meet people. Two of the girls on the bus were the people I went to the temple with, so there you go!
Best thing so far:
Walking down Khao San Road with some mates, hastled by a Tuk Tuk driver saying "You need Tuk Tuk? I show you city. 5 baht, for you special price" to which my Scottish friend said "You need Tuk Tuk! I give you good service, see ping pong show!" This was followed by a collection of angry sounding Thai words from the Tuk Tuk driver and a few gestures, but he got the message ;)
The massage was really nice :) it was like a really good stretch before some sport... I felt really good after :) Standing really upright. It was slightly strange tho, having this Thai girl walking on you and bending you in ways I'm not used to. Lol.
Had a great day yesterday, went to the Grand Temple, and the giant reclining Buddah and then went off to the Siam aquarium in central Bangkok. Was really great because each of the places I went I met up with people and went around doing stuff with them. Barely been on my own. Lol. Then went out last night (very long night) and met two girls from Denmark, two girls from Ireland, 5 guys from Leeds, two guys from Edinborough, 6 teachers from California (coolest teachers I've ever met) and a very tall German... to name a few. So yeah, it really is that easy to meet people :)
Thinking of heading off to Kanchanaburi today instead of staying in Bangkok another night, mainly because I've seen the sights I'd be interested in and the city is so polluted and full of taxi and tuk tuk drivers hastling you all the time. It's great for a while, but I think I want to see the more rural side of this country.
I did get the bus in the end, and again, that way I got to meet people. Two of the girls on the bus were the people I went to the temple with, so there you go!
Best thing so far:
Walking down Khao San Road with some mates, hastled by a Tuk Tuk driver saying "You need Tuk Tuk? I show you city. 5 baht, for you special price" to which my Scottish friend said "You need Tuk Tuk! I give you good service, see ping pong show!" This was followed by a collection of angry sounding Thai words from the Tuk Tuk driver and a few gestures, but he got the message ;)
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Arrived safely and have found an internet cafe right next to where I'm staying. This keyboard is crazy... it's got about four symbols on each key but at least it's qwerty!
Very nice room, to stay in for my first night, so thanks very much for organising that Mum and Dad :) found it in the end.
Got chatting away to four very nice people on the way to Khao San road... but unfortunately none of them are staying for long. Couple are off to Cambodia, and one (very nice bloke) is staying in a hostel quite far away... but I'm bound to meet lots of other people. It's funny cos when you walk past a westener you're instantly friends... just because it's clear you're both in the same boat and happy to make friends :)
Best moment so far: walking 100 yards to the bus station I was hailed by two taxi drivers saying the bus takes hours and never turn up and taxt is cheaper, etc, etc. I know they'd try their best :) I clearly look lost and gullible.
Going for a complementary massage tonight :) bit random but looking forward to it :)
Very nice room, to stay in for my first night, so thanks very much for organising that Mum and Dad :) found it in the end.
Got chatting away to four very nice people on the way to Khao San road... but unfortunately none of them are staying for long. Couple are off to Cambodia, and one (very nice bloke) is staying in a hostel quite far away... but I'm bound to meet lots of other people. It's funny cos when you walk past a westener you're instantly friends... just because it's clear you're both in the same boat and happy to make friends :)
Best moment so far: walking 100 yards to the bus station I was hailed by two taxi drivers saying the bus takes hours and never turn up and taxt is cheaper, etc, etc. I know they'd try their best :) I clearly look lost and gullible.
Going for a complementary massage tonight :) bit random but looking forward to it :)
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Monday, 1 June 2009
Two weeks.
Hello!
I've left work now, (thank god) and am soaking up some British sunshine in the garden :) I believe I've got everything sorted for travelling now: visa, money, bag, passports, flights, research, etc. Might be booking a place to stay for my first night in Thailand but am undecided... anyone got any suggestions?
Really excited about Thailand! The flight lands around 4:30pm so it gives me enough time to settle and go out to survey the local scene. I'm planning to hit Khao San Road (pictured) as soon as I land. It's meant to be backpacker's paradise so plenty of like minded people to bump into I hope.
If anyone has any suggestions for hostels to stay in please let me know! This is what Wikipedia has to say about it:
I've left work now, (thank god) and am soaking up some British sunshine in the garden :) I believe I've got everything sorted for travelling now: visa, money, bag, passports, flights, research, etc. Might be booking a place to stay for my first night in Thailand but am undecided... anyone got any suggestions?
Really excited about Thailand! The flight lands around 4:30pm so it gives me enough time to settle and go out to survey the local scene. I'm planning to hit Khao San Road (pictured) as soon as I land. It's meant to be backpacker's paradise so plenty of like minded people to bump into I hope.
If anyone has any suggestions for hostels to stay in please let me know! This is what Wikipedia has to say about it:
Crafts, paintings, clothes, pirate CDs, DVDs, fake educational diplomas, fake driver's licenses, food, second-hand books and many other useful backpacker items are among the common goods traded along the road. It's also popular among local people, especially artists and art students. The road hosts a number of pubs and bars, where people of many nationalities meet and discuss their travels.
It is one of Bangkok's most vibrant streets, host to people from around the world. One Thai writer described the road as "a short road that has the longest dream in the world."
Sounds like a pretty good laugh! Haha! I've been learning up on my "wai" and trying to learn a 
few words/phrases to get me by. Also a few etiquettes to bear in mind, for example, did you know the Thai people see the head as sacred and you mustn't touch anyone on the head unless you're really great pals! I'll remember that cos I'm not too keen on getting kick boxed to buggery!
Next update I'll probably be in Thailand so let me know if you've got any tips!
Speak soon.
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