Well actually this is just the beginning of the full moon party... we're taking it easy for the first bit so I decided to post something. Yesterday was fun. We went on a Munchies tour of the island that I'm not sure I'd recomend to anyone but it was okay. They stuffed like over 50 people on the one long tail boat, so it couldn't go over waves because it was too heavy so part of the trip was cancelled and they didn't tell us about it until after we got on the boat. We then went to a waterfall on the island. not as great as the previous waterfalls that we have seen but it was nice. Then some free time on the beach, back into the longtial boat and off to a coral reef to snorkel. Snorkelling kinda freaks me out, but we saw so many small fish. Got back home, went out for dinner, bought a bucket and I got drunk. John took care of me.
Woke up this morning in rough shape. It's John's bday. Lazed around the beach all day, played friesbee, read my book in a hommock and then out for dinner. I had a whole crab. You shoulda seen this thing on my plate. Not too filling because it's all shell but good nonetheless. We're in the beginning of the full moon party now and there are so many people just biligerent already. I can't wait to see the state that people get in tonight. Can only be fun. I can alreayd hear the good House and Trance music playing down at the beach. Buckets of Sang Som rum are 120 baht. Yeah that's 4$... cheaper than any one drink in Canada. Always fun. oh yeah and the crab for supper was only 8$ ... unheard of in CAn. Well John and I are off to join the carnage. Dancing time!! tell you all about it later
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Ko Pha ngon
K so after 2 days of Ko Samui, we headed over to Ko Pha ngon because calling places to book lodgings for the Full Moon party didn't seem to be going anywhere and we needed to have a place for a couple of days on Ko P. Took a rather short ferry over, I tanned the whole way. Then tried to find a decent place to stay. We took the first place we got for 500 baht so we didn't have to trek around our uge bags all day in the heat. This place didn't even have toiet paper, but it had a cockroach so we got another place to stay at for tonight with AC and a way nicer secluded spot. So we played in the ocean, went for dinner at this place that played Family Guy for all the westerners and then tried to watch a bad theatre rip of Saw 4. Gave up that bad idea ... we couldn't hear anything. Then went to the party. This whole time we had been drinking buckets. Now, in Thailand you can get these buckets. About 8 ozs. of whatever alch you like, redbull and a can of coke, sprite or fanta. They get you drunk 'quick but are the way to go if you want to party cheap. So yeah, John got REALLY drunk. I took care of him. He fell and broke his legs. (really just scratched them badly). We danced to trance. I got a dragon painted in fluoro paint all up the side of my leg. It was fun. Lost John at some point, then found him and went home.
He was paying for it this morning. We got to our new bungalow and then lazed around the beach all day , had supper , a bottle of wine, and watched the sunset on a cliff on the sea. Tomorrow we'e giong on a snorkelling tour of the island.
He was paying for it this morning. We got to our new bungalow and then lazed around the beach all day , had supper , a bottle of wine, and watched the sunset on a cliff on the sea. Tomorrow we'e giong on a snorkelling tour of the island.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Password
Sorry, I didn't realize that everybody would need a password to get into see the pictures. the password is hotmail. Enjoy!!
Monday, November 19, 2007
In the South
Took an overnight train down here. The train sucked.. I didn't sleep at all. It was cold and loud and jerky. All the other trains we had been on hadn't been that bad. Okay so off the train and onto a bus and then a ferry to Ko Samui. Then onto the back of a truck after finding the post office which took a while. Got a tan on the ferry ride over.... was only out for like 30 mins and I'm already darker. hahha. Finally we arrive at Hat Chaweng.. the main beach of Ko Samui and start looking for a hotel. We got one at Samui Coral Resort for 1000 Baht a night. Pretty good considering everything is about 1200-1500 around here.
had lunch, walked down the white beach, played alittle bit of frisbee, went swimingin the ocean, which John has actually never done before. His first time tasting salt water was a funny sight. Lounged around, played mini golf, had supper on the beach by candel light on these little lounge benches. Then went and played pool at the Islander. John went in a pool tourny. Then jumped in the ocean for a little late night swim and bed time.
It's raining today... shitty.. but the suns coming out soon . Time for the beach llata
had lunch, walked down the white beach, played alittle bit of frisbee, went swimingin the ocean, which John has actually never done before. His first time tasting salt water was a funny sight. Lounged around, played mini golf, had supper on the beach by candel light on these little lounge benches. Then went and played pool at the Islander. John went in a pool tourny. Then jumped in the ocean for a little late night swim and bed time.
It's raining today... shitty.. but the suns coming out soon . Time for the beach llata
Here are some more pics. They're from the night we gotback from our trek. You's think we'd be tired, but nope. John, Emma, Caoline, Alex, our leqader Jack and I all went out all night and danced and drank the night away. Our way of congratulting ourselves for making it through those strenuous 3 days.
http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/starf0rsaken/thailand/Spicy%20Bar%20night/
http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/starf0rsaken/thailand/Spicy%20Bar%20night/
Pics
Hey okay here are some of the pics that we have taken so far. There are so mant others but we have been having problems finding places with the right connection or that will let us use the CD drive. Hope you like them!!!
http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/starf0rsaken/thailand/Kaylas%20pics/
http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/starf0rsaken/thailand/Kaylas%20pics/
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Last day of the tour!
I'll update you on what all the events that I haven't been able to tell you about later when I have more time. Last night was the last night of our tour and we said an emotional goodbye to a couple of our tour mates. First we went out for dinner with everybody ands got started on the towers of Chang beer. By the time we left there we were almost buzzed. Since we were on Khao San road we just stopped by a really cheap bar that was in the street and u sit on little stoolls in the middle of the road. We had baout 10 buckets of various alcohol and everybody, even the older people got trashed. We then went to a dancing bar where even our tour leader Jack was really drunk. Dancing was fun, Emma got carried home she was so drunk. We're going down south in about an hour. Fun Fun in the sun . lata !!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Details on Culture.. and culture shock.
Okay, instead of reciting what it is that we have done so far (I will do that another time), I wanted to mention how different their culture is from ours.
- everything is open here. There are barely any doors into markets on the sides of streets.
- There are grass and bamboo huts everywhere, and they're not even that bad.
- the streets are incredibly narrow and other than taxis and the odd car owned by one of the few rich people here, everybody drives scooters or motorcycles. They drive with no helmets, stop signs barely any lights and often with two or 3 people on one scooter. And amazingly I haven't seen one crash yet. To get across the street you pretty much make a run for it, nobody will stop for you.
- We often ride around in the back of trucks that we call taxis. It's closed in and there are benches, but it is not always comfy. I have a pic for you.
- Dogs wander the streets amliessly around here. You are never quite sure if the dog belongs to anyone, they are everywhere.
- There are food vendors at every corner that are often attached to a scooter or a bike so they can just drive or push their food for sale down the street.
- The people are just plain small.. I tower over almost all of the girls.
- At night in certain parts of each city they have a night market where little vendors are set up to sell some sort of item. Anything from traditional Thai and Chinese lamps, to shirts, to purses. Think the Forks Market second floor where all those shops are along a norrow corridor. It's jam packed and hard to move around sometimes. But there are great things to be bought.
- You barter with the poeople you buy stuff from. They will always lower the price to about half if you start walking away. I have become pretty good at it.
- There is poverty. Not as blatant as say downtown WPG but there is. I have seen numerous little girls trying to sell flower wreaths they have made to try to earn some money for their families.
- We went to see a long neck colony where they put rings around the girls necks as a way pf protecting them from spirits or the tiger (a part of their culture). These women then have really long necks and up to 27 golden rings around their neck.
- There are temples everywhere. I know in Canada there are churches everywhere but not like this. Almost all temples are beautifully decorated and adorned with statues and engravings. All the temples we've seen have something special about them, like a crystal , jade or emerald buddha, some great history to it, or the newest all white and silver temple that resembles heaven on earth.
-Buddhist people are really respectful. You put your hands together at your chin and bow your head to say thank you, good bye or hello. John and I are not allowed to show any affection in public as it is frowned upon because we are not married. Many people just assume we are because at my age most girls, especailly within the tribes, are. I am not allowed to go into temples without my knees and shoulders covered and at some bathing places and pools the girls have to cover up and are not allowed to wear their bikinis. Us girld have eluded that rule, always picking pools we can wear our bikinis' at. Also, you can never touch the head of someone else. This is considered an insult to the Thai and Budhist people because they believe that a part of Buddha resides in their heads. It is the most holy of their body parts and the feet or the most dirty, so you can also never point your feet at someone. that is also an insult.
- the fruit here is amazing, I even like the bananas.
- A jug of beer is like 3$, and you can have a beer anywhere, they even sell them at 7-11.
As much as the Thai culture is different, we have gotten used to it really quickly. It is an accepting culture and easy to adapt to. And we still have 2 more weeks!! Can't wait to see what the south will bring!!
- everything is open here. There are barely any doors into markets on the sides of streets.
- There are grass and bamboo huts everywhere, and they're not even that bad.
- the streets are incredibly narrow and other than taxis and the odd car owned by one of the few rich people here, everybody drives scooters or motorcycles. They drive with no helmets, stop signs barely any lights and often with two or 3 people on one scooter. And amazingly I haven't seen one crash yet. To get across the street you pretty much make a run for it, nobody will stop for you.
- We often ride around in the back of trucks that we call taxis. It's closed in and there are benches, but it is not always comfy. I have a pic for you.
- Dogs wander the streets amliessly around here. You are never quite sure if the dog belongs to anyone, they are everywhere.
- There are food vendors at every corner that are often attached to a scooter or a bike so they can just drive or push their food for sale down the street.
- The people are just plain small.. I tower over almost all of the girls.
- At night in certain parts of each city they have a night market where little vendors are set up to sell some sort of item. Anything from traditional Thai and Chinese lamps, to shirts, to purses. Think the Forks Market second floor where all those shops are along a norrow corridor. It's jam packed and hard to move around sometimes. But there are great things to be bought.
- You barter with the poeople you buy stuff from. They will always lower the price to about half if you start walking away. I have become pretty good at it.
- There is poverty. Not as blatant as say downtown WPG but there is. I have seen numerous little girls trying to sell flower wreaths they have made to try to earn some money for their families.
- We went to see a long neck colony where they put rings around the girls necks as a way pf protecting them from spirits or the tiger (a part of their culture). These women then have really long necks and up to 27 golden rings around their neck.
- There are temples everywhere. I know in Canada there are churches everywhere but not like this. Almost all temples are beautifully decorated and adorned with statues and engravings. All the temples we've seen have something special about them, like a crystal , jade or emerald buddha, some great history to it, or the newest all white and silver temple that resembles heaven on earth.
-Buddhist people are really respectful. You put your hands together at your chin and bow your head to say thank you, good bye or hello. John and I are not allowed to show any affection in public as it is frowned upon because we are not married. Many people just assume we are because at my age most girls, especailly within the tribes, are. I am not allowed to go into temples without my knees and shoulders covered and at some bathing places and pools the girls have to cover up and are not allowed to wear their bikinis. Us girld have eluded that rule, always picking pools we can wear our bikinis' at. Also, you can never touch the head of someone else. This is considered an insult to the Thai and Budhist people because they believe that a part of Buddha resides in their heads. It is the most holy of their body parts and the feet or the most dirty, so you can also never point your feet at someone. that is also an insult.
- the fruit here is amazing, I even like the bananas.
- A jug of beer is like 3$, and you can have a beer anywhere, they even sell them at 7-11.
As much as the Thai culture is different, we have gotten used to it really quickly. It is an accepting culture and easy to adapt to. And we still have 2 more weeks!! Can't wait to see what the south will bring!!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
More Fun
Alllright!!! So We have been away from civilization for a few days so I haven't been able to post anything. Back to where I left off.
That night after kayaking.... I didn't go out as I was sick and sore. But later that night what do I wake up to?...... A COCKROACH!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!. JOHN GET UP AND KILL IT NOW!!!! I was definetly freaked out after that one. We woke up the next morning and Alex said he woke up to "IT"S A COCKROACH!!" haha at least i didn't wake anybody else up.
That day we got on a bus to Autthaya, where we did a temple tour. 3 gorgeous temples from the time when Autthaya was the capital. I will have pics posted hopefully by tomorrow. We haven't had wireless internet connections anywhere but I have found a cafe that has laptop servies.
After the temple tour we got on an overnight train that was actually quite a lot of fun to Chaing Mai. Aside from the fact that they put you to bed at like 11 and you have to wake up to the sound of "GOOD MORNING" in thai at 6:30 in the morning the train was actually cool. You got your own bed that turned into a table and chairs. Emma, Caroline, Alex, John and I played drinking games until we had to go to bed.
Day 1 in Chaing Mai: Seeing as we were all fairly tired. We kinda had a relaxed day cycling around Chaing Mai. Saw a couple of temples.... had lunch.. went to a bar.. played pool... and then cycled around trying to find a Tropical Mini Golf thing that didnt exist. After doing that for a while we decided to get a massage instead. When that interesting experience was over ... (and I say interesting b/c Alex got a ball cuppage and all 3 of us girls had our boobs massaged hmmm.. didn't know that was part of it) we then ditched the bikes and went to another bar.
That night was fun as we got to go to the night market which Chaing Mai is famous for..... I have bought so much stuff... now where to put it.. hmmm??
Trekking:::: Hardest thing I have done in my life.
Didn't really expect it to be a climb up the side of a mountain for most of the day. We were all exhausted but in a good way when we got to our hut that was right beside a 10 meter waterfall later that night.
That night after kayaking.... I didn't go out as I was sick and sore. But later that night what do I wake up to?...... A COCKROACH!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!. JOHN GET UP AND KILL IT NOW!!!! I was definetly freaked out after that one. We woke up the next morning and Alex said he woke up to "IT"S A COCKROACH!!" haha at least i didn't wake anybody else up.
That day we got on a bus to Autthaya, where we did a temple tour. 3 gorgeous temples from the time when Autthaya was the capital. I will have pics posted hopefully by tomorrow. We haven't had wireless internet connections anywhere but I have found a cafe that has laptop servies.
After the temple tour we got on an overnight train that was actually quite a lot of fun to Chaing Mai. Aside from the fact that they put you to bed at like 11 and you have to wake up to the sound of "GOOD MORNING" in thai at 6:30 in the morning the train was actually cool. You got your own bed that turned into a table and chairs. Emma, Caroline, Alex, John and I played drinking games until we had to go to bed.
Day 1 in Chaing Mai: Seeing as we were all fairly tired. We kinda had a relaxed day cycling around Chaing Mai. Saw a couple of temples.... had lunch.. went to a bar.. played pool... and then cycled around trying to find a Tropical Mini Golf thing that didnt exist. After doing that for a while we decided to get a massage instead. When that interesting experience was over ... (and I say interesting b/c Alex got a ball cuppage and all 3 of us girls had our boobs massaged hmmm.. didn't know that was part of it) we then ditched the bikes and went to another bar.
That night was fun as we got to go to the night market which Chaing Mai is famous for..... I have bought so much stuff... now where to put it.. hmmm??
Trekking:::: Hardest thing I have done in my life.
Didn't really expect it to be a climb up the side of a mountain for most of the day. We were all exhausted but in a good way when we got to our hut that was right beside a 10 meter waterfall later that night.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
3 REALLY busy Days!!
SOOOO... there aren't any more Canadians on the tour with us. But John and i have made friends with 2 Bristish girls that came here together... Emma and caroline, and a British guy that came here himself and is a total laugh, Alex. our tour guide loves making fun of us but he knows his stuff and I wouldn't want anybody else. We left the crazy sketchiness of Bangkok on Monday and went frist to Kanchanaburi. We were staying in the cutest river houses on the river Kwai. I'll post the video as sson as we can get the laptop hooked up to the net. There's not a lot of wireless connection here. We toured around all day and went to a couple bars. The food here is amazing. You have to try everything even if you don't know what it is. I had a spicy papaya salad and almost died it was so hot.
The second day in Kanchanaburi was the most amazing day ever. We got up at like 6:30 and took the hour and a half bus ride to the Ewaran waterfalls. We spent a good part of the day hiking up the 2100 feet to get to the top. Most of the group went..... John, the British folk and I decided we would do more swiming and less hiking and jumped in. The waterfall wasn't just one waterfall. It was a series of 7 major waterfall all going up the side of a mountain. We swam in the 3rd and 5th teirs and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Monkeys were around and these little fish kept nibbling at our feet. They scared all of us and to keep them away from us we couldn't stop swimming , so it tired us out after a while. After the morning of waterfalls we went to the Tiger Temple, where they have real wild tigers that they have taken out of thewild because of injury or something and then tamed. So we all got pictures of us petting the tigers.
I can't wait to post the photos. After the Tigers and wild animals on this sort of farm thing John, Alex and I went kayaking on the river Kwai. I beat the guys with my mad kayaking skills. It was really beautiful and we pretty much pulled right into our guest house on the river. Awesome. Post more later! Wishing you were here!!
The second day in Kanchanaburi was the most amazing day ever. We got up at like 6:30 and took the hour and a half bus ride to the Ewaran waterfalls. We spent a good part of the day hiking up the 2100 feet to get to the top. Most of the group went..... John, the British folk and I decided we would do more swiming and less hiking and jumped in. The waterfall wasn't just one waterfall. It was a series of 7 major waterfall all going up the side of a mountain. We swam in the 3rd and 5th teirs and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Monkeys were around and these little fish kept nibbling at our feet. They scared all of us and to keep them away from us we couldn't stop swimming , so it tired us out after a while. After the morning of waterfalls we went to the Tiger Temple, where they have real wild tigers that they have taken out of thewild because of injury or something and then tamed. So we all got pictures of us petting the tigers.
I can't wait to post the photos. After the Tigers and wild animals on this sort of farm thing John, Alex and I went kayaking on the river Kwai. I beat the guys with my mad kayaking skills. It was really beautiful and we pretty much pulled right into our guest house on the river. Awesome. Post more later! Wishing you were here!!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
OKay, We just met our tour group and just about everyone has had a bad experience with the tuktuk or taxi drivers. Warning to anyone travelling here, they're trying to scam you or take you to some "associate's" place so they can make more money off you. Just don't get in one. Tell them no. We took a small tour down Khoasan rd.to do some money exchange and I have never seen soo many small shops selling counterfeit items. It's a definite must see in my books just so you get exposed to the full culture shock of it all. Not buying anything here... I'll wait for Chiang Mai which is supposed to be 10 times better. Can't wait to buy some stuff. Though where I'll put it i don't know.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Safely arrived
The flights were long, but thankfully there were no issues other than one delay with Air Canada.
Typing this from our hotel lobby. Our rooms are good, with the exception of the twin beds. Hot water, a/c, and my mobile & laptop both have the 220v converter builtin so i odn't have to worry about a separate converter.
Had a bit of an issue with our first taxi, we were ripped off a few hundred baht in toll fees (which is approx. $10), but not too big of a deal. The warnings are all around here in regards to fraudulent tuk-tuk and taxi drivers. Nevertheless we arrived at our hotel safely, and are spending the rest of the day touring around before our guided tour starts at 6 pm. It is 12:40 PM right now, about 16 hours ahead of our CAN timezones.
Typing this from our hotel lobby. Our rooms are good, with the exception of the twin beds. Hot water, a/c, and my mobile & laptop both have the 220v converter builtin so i odn't have to worry about a separate converter.
Had a bit of an issue with our first taxi, we were ripped off a few hundred baht in toll fees (which is approx. $10), but not too big of a deal. The warnings are all around here in regards to fraudulent tuk-tuk and taxi drivers. Nevertheless we arrived at our hotel safely, and are spending the rest of the day touring around before our guided tour starts at 6 pm. It is 12:40 PM right now, about 16 hours ahead of our CAN timezones.
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