More from Koh Samui

Our Bungalow on Lamai Beach



View from the south side of the island

The Reef

Koh Samui

Recently endeavored on another succession of Thai transport delights. Koh Lanta to Krabi in a minivan (including two ferries), then on to Surat Thani by public bus. Think bright pink tassles and the loudest Thai karaoke you've ever heard. Most of the locals were senior citizens and no one seemed interested in the extremely intense bass, this combined with the air-con set to 'Antarctica' made us glad to reach Surat.

Stayed in a basic (generous description) hotel without air-con. Went for dinner at a local market where we ate amazing mussel omelette's, and little coconut pudding things. Beautiful.

Koh Samui seems like a really nice place, we have a cute little bungalow on the beach. Went for a stroll last night and bought a paper air balloon off a local dude trying to sell us drugs (600baht for two E's if you're interested). It's all about scooters and exploration today.

Photos...hopefully

Here are a couple of pics of the trip so far, looking at putting some movies on the blog too, but you can't use YouTube in Thailand.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6528303.stm

Anyway, about to leave this monsoon soaked island and head to the hedonist paradise of Koh Samui. Hippies and drunk English backpackers...Hopefully not.

Look at the ceiling

Still residing on the rain soaked island of Ko Lanta, had a fun day out yesterday exploring the eastern coast on scooter. Stopped in at a deserted little beach named Nui towards the end of the island. It is a very cute little cove with little fishing boats lying around and a hefty shore break pounding in. I had a really good time playing in the waves until a bigger than expected slam on my back made me realise this probably isn't the best place in the world to be hospitalised with neck injuries. I guess the food would be good?

There are absolutely no tourists round these parts at this time of year. Well thats a lie...there are three Germans in multi coloured ponchos cruising round on a 50cc Yamaha with a side car, a Thai styled one though complete with fetching awning. There's also the Austrian woman and her family. She's more muscly than Arnold Schwarzenegger. Stella and I are scared of her.

Then there's the resort, we booked it from Phuket, as most of the smaller operations are shut down. There are about three groups staying there, but its pretty luxury and neither of us are used to it. The staff are all really polite, sometimes over the top. Anyway its nice to indulge while the rain flows.

Having a bit of difficulty getting images up onto this thing, but within the next few days it should all be sweet.

Koh Samui next...........Ciao

Tsunami Tsux

As the rain hammers down and the sidewalks go from muddy to unpassable I am sitting in an internet cafe on the National Park island of Ko Lanta. I haven't seen any tourists, actually I haven't even seen many Thai's. This is what they call the low season. The one other group at our luxury resort (more later) constant rain, and discount everything sum up this time of year. Still, i'm sure it won't rain everyday and if it does at least i'll get a lot of time to write about it. Am off to hire a scooter, at a discount rate of course. Hopefully i'll be up to the challenge of riding whilst holding an umbrella, eating a Pad Thai and getting a foot massage.

C'mon Aussie give me a coffee.

After the shittest Bacon and Eggs i've ever tried on the plane, Sydney welcomed me with a clear crisp morning. The true test of a city is to try and find a coffee at 9 in the morning, and i've have to give this place a big thumbs down. Maybe I don't know where to look but after passing my 12th Starbucks madness was setting in.


George St


Waterfront


Overseas Terminal

Well that's about my lot from Sydney, it is actually really beautiful here. Sunny too. Next stop the land of silk, gems, exotic fruits and cheap watches... Watch this space.