Ko Samui & Ko Pha-Ngan, Thailand

About 4 or 5 days ago, Laurence and I arrived back to Bangkok from our Elephant journey. Its funny how just seeing anything familiar or similar to where you were before, even Bangkok, seems almost like a homecoming.

Laurence and I spent about a half day there together befor he had to head home. It will definitely be interesting without him. Laurence had been on several trips of his own and was really a great guide. He was the architect behind the start of the trip and no doubt will be missed. Im sad to see him go but we covered a lot of ground have some good stories to go with it.
The first month went fast but Im looking forward to the chance to see how the trip goes on my own. Thus far it has been going well. I took a train from Bangkok to Sunat Thai in the southern part of Thailand. The train got in at about 2:30 in the morning. I just read my book, Catch-22, at the train station till the sunset to avoid having to pay for a hotel room.

The bus and ferry I took to Ko Somui was full of Backpackers my age, I dont think Ill have problems meeting anyone. I booked my room in Ko Somui from a solicitor at the ferry waiting area. The place was a bungaloo on the beach in Lamai for 250 Baht, about $7.5 a night. The beach is gorgeous. I wish I had my camera on me to post some of the pictures. It really was stunning. The huts you stay in are all A-frame huts with a matress, fan, and mosquito net. The fan is key. The toilet and shower are outside separate from the room. The place is perfect.

I ended up meeting a good guy there named Stuart, he goes by Stu. He is a 30-year old English men who has been living in New Zealand for the past two years. He is currently on his way back to England to wait for his residency to go through there.

I spent most of my time in Ko Somui there exploring the island. We ended up renting a few Motorbikes which has been a blast. Those things can go fast. They cost about 150-180 Baht a day and are awesome. I have no motorcycle, dirt bike, etic. experience so starting out was a bit rough but once I got a hang of it there is no better way to see the scenary. When you rent the bike, you fill out a form, give them your passport and they give you the bike. That simple. My training consisted of the guy walking outside when I asked for help because I couldnt start it. Everyone there has one: The Thai, the Tourists, Everyone. And they all wear flip flops on them as they zip around.

Traffic on the islands is light but fast moving. And the roads are crap but doable but on average no worse then the Pennsylvani Turnpike. People pass you constantly. The passing is kind of startling when the car comes up from behind you, but it is even more so when the car is passing another car going the other direction and is coming at you head on into your lane. If there is one thing DC and the Beltway has prepared me for it's just ridiculous traffic. Not neccessarily fast moving traffic but ridiculous traffic none the less.

Filling the bikes up is the best part. You can go to a gas station which there are a hand full of, or you can go to the gas stands. The stands are either wooden racks full of glass bottles of a Liter of gas or they are a metal barrel of gas with a meter you crack on top to get the gas out. To measure out the gas the attendant watches the line of the gas go down the beaker like tube at the top and stops it when it looks like a liter went in. Super Hightech. A liter is about 40-55 Baht, about $1 or $2, and two will last you all day.

Right now I am in Ko Pha-Ngan. I got here yesterday. I just paid for my hotel room in full for the next week. It cost me 1500 Baht, $45. I plan on staying in my current place and just exploring the island for the next few days by bike and then partying the last few during the Full Moon Party. Im pretty excited for both.

Side note: I think Thailand is the westerner Tattoo Capital of the World. So man people have full sleaves and just massive leg and shoulder tattoos. I think leaving Thailand without one would be an accomplishment. It's funny because, I have yet to think to myself, 'Wow, that tatto looks great in that Bikini.'
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My future plans are to stay here till my Visa expires on the 27th then head south by land to Malaysia and Singapore. Ill probably be in both two weeks total and will come back into Thailand and will check out the Eastern gulf coast here for the next two weeks. After September is over Ill head into Vietnam, Cambodia, and Loas by land again for October. And then Ill spend the first part of November in India and the second half in China. I dont know where Ill go from there maybe Taiwan, or Indonesia but I still plan on being in Australia by the start of December where I hope to replenish my funds to keep my trip going.