Well as you might suspect Dave and I have settled into the life here on Samui but it is now rapidly coming to an end. We decided to skip the Full Moon Party which sounds like it was a good decision since by all accounts it was a pretty tame event this time around. We've met some great people from the Bar Ice and have spent most of our time at our bungalow or with the people from there. We will be flying up to Bangkok on the 28th and then we should have some time to catch up on our blogs and hopefully load some photos. Hope everything is good at home. Looking forward to Halloween but not going back to work. We will savour our last couple days in paradise and try not to think about having to go home but it's hard. We've been trying to think of what kind of business to open to so we can stay but its obviously a pipe dream for now. One day...

Just a quick update. Things are fantastic here as expected. The weather has been really nice, hot and sunny every day. We spend most of the days cruising around on our mopeds exploring the island and most nights we find a fun place to have some drinks. Lost Dave last night but found a great bar called Murray Bar with a live band that was really really good. Danced the night away with some new friends. Not sure what is on the agenda for tonight but I'm sure it will be fun. I was planning on continuing my blog post from the other day today but managed to sleep till 5pm. Must have needed to catch up. Dave is having a shower so I don't really have time for a big post. There is still the whole wedding weekend to tell about but I already know that there is no way I could possibly do it justice in words. I have pics and video but it has proven to be near impossible finding a computer that I can work with to upload them. The connections here are just to slow. Here is one though of breakfast at our bungalow.

Dave is back from having his shower now. That should be an intication of how long it took just to put up this one photo. When I have time I'll post about the wedding and try to do it justice. I think we have decided not to do the Full Moon Party but we have been invited to a private party that night so we'll be having fun none the less. Until then, ciao for now.

Thailand Day 2 - 8


It's 3:23 am here, I've had a few wobbly pops and after a little searching I've found a 24hr internet cafe to finally do a blog post. Somehow I have to write a blog that will encompass the last 7 days and yet still be short enough not to bore anyone nor too long as to scare anyone away from trying to read it. How do you do that? Also, unfortunately, the computers are very slow and the card reader won't work so I can't upload any photos. My writing style is my own though I guess so I figure I'll just write it how it comes out and if people want to read they will. From day 2 in Bangkok till now is has been so hectic and yet so fantastic I want to make sure I don't miss anything. What to include and what to leave out? My brother has had his iPhone 4 with him the whole time, so with WiFi he can just upload whenever he wants which is fantastic for him but frustrating for me. So before I begin a reminder to check out Daves blog as well, ddthailand.wordpress.com.


With the way I left off the last blog it should be no surprise that I was feeling somewhat haggard when I woke up a little late in the day. I really didn't want to acknowledge Dave when he finally roused me and demanded that I get up but I figured I should just start getting used to it. I reluctantly got dressed and in a slight fog we headed off in the direction of Kao San Rd. The only real duty we had that day was to pick up our tickets for the journey south to Koh Samui. Somewhere in the haze of our previous days adventure we had the clarity of mind to arranged for our tickets on the night train down to Surat Thani. When we got to the Sawadee Guest House to pick up our tickets though we were informed that the train was sold out for the next two days and if we wanted to head south we would have to pay for the last available first class tickets on the train leaving that evening. I was a little wary we were being conned but with the wedding in only a few day we couldn't afford to take the risk. We bought the tickets at almost 2000 baht ($75) each and after Dave found a pair of sandals to buy we headed back to our room to pack our things. We took a Tuk Tuk over to the Lamphong train station and with a little time to spare we had a nice big lunch of KFC. Luckily for us though we headed for our train platform a little early and when we couldn't find our train car decided to ask one of the platform managers for help. Apparently the last guy to offer help had given us the wrong platform number and by a matter of mere minutes before our train left we were in our private little state room. The train ride was mostly at night so obviously there wasn't a whole hell of a lot to see out there. We ate, played games and then around 9pm folded down the beds to relax and read and try to get some sleep. We got a little but only a couple of hours really. The train was supposed to get to Surat Thani by 4:30am but by 5:30am we were still on the move and getting worried. The train steward had told us that he would come knock on our door with about 20 minutes left before our stop but when I went to check on the guy he was still asleep in his little quarters. I wasn't the only one wondering what was happening though because there were also a couple Thai people looking out the doors of there cabins checking to see what was going on. Finally one of them went to wake the steward and ask him when we would be arriving. It was then that we found out we would be two hours late and that he would still come and inform us before the train arrived. When we finally did arrive at around 7am we were almost immediately transferred onto one of the most horrid buses I've ever been on. The back door stair well was permanently closed off and had been turned into a repository for old pop cans and whatever else people felt like tossing down there. There was only Dave and I and four Japanese girls on the bus. One had on a shirt that said "State of Frolida" which we thought was funny. As the bus driver pulled away he turned on the air conditioner and it spat out some dusty, foggy weird shit which we all tried to shy away from but really, where could we go. So we headed off on a stinky, loud somewhat dangerous looking bus towards the pier and the ferry to Koh Samui.

There is one thing that always seems to happen to me here and you would think that by now I would learn. Whenever I go on my first ferry trip from the mainland to Koh Samui I always head for the upper deck to find a nice place to lie down and relax. Well with the boat cruising along and the wind blowing over the water feeling wonderful against the heat of the day I always block out the fact that the sun is just beating down on us. So naturally I burnt to a crisp. At least I got it out of the way early on I guess. The ferry ride is a little over an hour and the taxi van into Chaweng is another 30 - 40 minutes. We decided that we would just get dropped off near Chaweng, head for the beach and then check into whatever Bungalows it looks like we can afford. Luckily for us we didn't have to look long. After walking for about half a mile down the beautiful white sand beach with our big ol' backpacks we found the Marine Bungalows. 500 Baht ($9 each) a night for a shared room by the beach and just off the main tourist section of Chaweng. We were there and we were loving it... We dropped our gear in the room, rented mopeds from the front desk for 200baht each ($6:50) and spent the rest of the day just looking around Chaweng and trying to track down the FC Villa.

I'll leave off there for now cause it's getting late and quite frankly my buzz has worn off and I need to sleep. Tomorrow I'll try to find a better computer where I can update some more and although two of our cameras have broken so far we have some great pictures I would like upload and share. Off to bed for me so goodnight from Samui.

Bangkok Day One


I left off on the last blog with Dave upstairs at our Guest House charging a couple of things... well, when I got upstairs he had made friends with a woman across the hall named Carmen. Really nice lady from Germany who had taken a year off from teaching to do some traveling. 50 years old and traveling the world by herself. Impressive. After hanging our for a bit while things charged .... (side note: it just started pissing rain) ... the three of us decided to go visit a temple called Wat Pho which is the home of the huge Reclining Buddha. Quite a large temple complex with smaller temples and places to pray. The roofs of the temple are almost all gold coloured with the entrance archways on each entirely covered with small pieces of mostly gold and multicoloured pieces of glass. Absolutely beautiful. We wandered the grounds for a while taking pictures and then decided to go for a traditional Thai massage. Within the temple grounds itself is an old Thai Massage School where the students give massages to the visitors. The three of us got a 30 minute massage each for 220 baht ($8). Besides the immensely awkward feeling of having a man above me pushing my face into a pillow it was really nice. Painful at points but soothing and I think I'll even steal a few of the techniques for myself.







We left the temple grounds and wandered around a bit, had some great soup from a cart on the side of the road and then headed back towards Kao San Rd. Carmen and I both had books that we wanted to look for so Dave headed for the Guest House while we searched. No luck on the books for us so we headed for the Guest House too. There we found Dave at the computer typing away. While he did that I said goodbye to Carmen for the day and headed to the room for a shower.

On our first full day in Bangkok with the wandering around and sight seeing done we got down to the drinking and carousing part of our stay. We started at a place called the Sawadee Guest House with a few San Miguel's. Ok a lot of San Muguel's. We got rained on once which wasn't so bad and continued to drink and play pool. Eventually we decided that it was time to head to the more seedy part of Bangkok called Patpong. The red light district and all around area of debauchery. Dave and I hopped on a Tuk Tuk and made our way through the city. As soon as we got there it began to rain again and then unfortunately for me I pissed away most of my money on a pair sun glasses. So we got to Patpong, bought sunglasses and then with only a little money left just decided to sit for a beer and listen to a live band. Almost as soon as we got our beers a large black woman decided it was time to strip down to her panties and dance in the rain shaking her breasts at everyone. Once the laughter and the novelty wore off an old guy from the bar we were at came out and chased her off with a sling shot. After a few songs from a band that was pretty damn good we finished our beers and decided to head back to Kao San Rd. We really were on our way out of Patpong when Dave decided he had to take a piss, not a pee but a really bad piss before we left. So with that we made our way into one of the "establishments". The ladies will have to forgive the rest of this but it is typical Patpong. The bar is usually a long stage with stripper poles surrounded by a bar with seats lining the walls on both sides. There are usually about 10 girls up there dancing (kinda) around in bikinis looking bored. While Dave headed for the bathroom I took a seat and ordered myself a beer and tried to explain a Mojito for Dave to the Mama San. Within literally 3 minutes there was two girls from the stage on either side of me. Dave got back from the washroom and although the girls were cute they were young enough to make us feel uncomfortable. When we went into the bar it was with the understanding that we would have a drink so Dave could use the washroom and then back to Kao San. Well the usual way these things work is that if you want girls to sit with you you buy drinks for the girls and they charge an arm and a leg for them. We didn't ask for the girls and we didn't ask for the drinks for them so within a few minutes the girls were there and so were their drinks. Dave and I didn't have enough cash with us for the situation we were now in. We explained to the Mama San but she wasn't happy with us. Dave slammed back his drink, I grabbed my beer, we gave Mama San the money we had minus the Tuk Tuk fee and with a pinch on the ass from one of the girls we headed for the door. An thus ended out first excursion into the infamous Patpong. We hired a Tuk Tuk and made our way back to Kao San where we made a quick stop back at our Guest House to get more money and then headed back out again. By now it was about 2 - 2:30am. At the head of Kao San Rd. is a place called Gulliver Travels. Great place with a Tuk Tuk hanging under the sign and music pounding out the door. We went in got drinks and mingled for awhile before heading upstairs to play some pool. We played for a while but it was not that much fun getting schooled by some Thai girls who had no problem taking our money. This is where I lost Dave for the rest of that night. By 4am the bar was closing and while Dave was chatting up a Thai girl I headed out to the street for some late night Pad Thai from one of the street vendors. Nothing better after a night of drinking. Don't remember a whole lot after that but I did meet an English bloke named Dave and we drank and bullshitted some more while getting foot massages and talking about Hockey. His step mom is Canadian. We went from the foot massages to a 24 hr bar and continues to drink until about 8:30am. He was fighting with his bird and didn't much feel like going back to his room so I left him there with plans to meet up at the Full Moon Party on the 23rd and headed home. I wondered where Dave got too since I had the room key but was too drunk and having too much fun to really give a shit. LOL I figured he would just pass out on one of the beds in the lobby of our Guest House. At least that's what I would have done. Well when I finally stumbled my drunk ass home at 9am he was passed out on his bed with the door open a crack. I closed the door, went to bed and that was the end of our first night in Bangkok.

I'll pick up the story of our second day when I can find the time to get to the computer again. For now the adventure continues...

Oh yeah, we just moved to the Karma Villa resort in preparation for Marcos wedding. It is the nicest place I've ever stayed at... Fucking incredible.
www.karmasamui.com

Wow... I somehow always seem to purge from my memory the absolute boredom of overseas flights and of course the inevitability of numb ass. Total time from leaving my place to Kao San Rd. in Bangkok was 24hrs. All in all well worth it though. Our flight from Beijing to Bangkok was even 30 minutes early!! In all my travels I don't remember ever having an early flight. Nothing really of note though except I had my new bottle of Gatorade taken away at YVR for some reason. I personally believe the security check girl was just thirsty but who knows. Also in Beijing Dave and I helped a couple of old East Indian women find there way back to the security check where they had somehow left without taking their shoes?? Our good deed for the day I guess.

Getting through the Bangkok airport was easy and pretty fast. The first thing we did was hit an ATM and then get a taxi. We lucked out on our driver cause he was driving like a freakin mad man, in and out of traffic at high speeds, but we arrived safe and sound at Kao San Rd. at a little after 1am. We quickly made our way to the My House Guest House so we could put our bags somewhere and head out. I've stayed here most of my others stays in Bangkok and it's a pretty decent place for the price. A double room with fan and shower for Dave and I is 350 baht ($12). After settling into our room and a quick shower for Dave we headed for Kao San Rd. First thing first we grabbed a large Singha beer each to drink while we wandered. As we made our way down Kao San, dodging all the tuk tuk drivers who wanted to take us to see the ping pong shows, we saw some NHL on a big screen which was a surprise. In all my times in Bangkok or anywhere in Thailand I've never seen hockey before. It was the Rangers vs. Islanders though so we weren't that interested. Since we were relatively late to Kao San we just wandered, had some drinks, sat for some food and a couple more drinks and then wandered back to the guest house around 3:30am. I was still too wired to fall asleep but Dave was out like a light. Dick head has always been able to do that. Today it was up at 8am to grab a couple things... sandles for Dave and sun glasses for me. Dave found his, I didn't. Now while I type this Dave is upstairs charging what needs to be charged and relaxing before we go out sight seeing. Today we set up our tickets for the night train down to Ko Samui and then maybe it's the Kings Palace and Reclining Buddah, we'll see.

For me it's finally setting in that I'm back in Thailand. What a great feeling. I'll try to check in as often as I can but hopefully I'll be too busy to be on the computer much.

So, ciao for now...

(After an hour of typing I lost all my original post so after cursing under my breath I retyped this really quick so forgive any spelling errors or the rushed feel to it.)

Well, it's 4:45 am on Sunday morning, October 10th, and I've been awake since 2. My flight doesn't leave till 2pm today but I'm too wired to sleep. My brother and I will be leaving for Thailand today. 6 years since I have last been there and 4 years since I've done any real traveling. Our buddy Viz was supposed to be coming with us but dropped out with only a week to go. Too bad for him, he's going to miss an incredible time.

This whole trip was spawned out of the desire to just get away last summer. We did a little camping but it wasn't enough. Dave, Viz and I made a short little trip down to Seattle to watch some UFC and had so much fun that we decided we should set our sights on a real trip somewhere. All inclusive to Mexico, driving trip though the States or even a trip to Long Beach on the island... anything. Well, not long after that we heard that a friend of ours was getting married in Thailand. Marco Vasquez who Viz and I went to school with had moved to Hong Kong about 3 years ago where he met his fiance Theresa. When we heard he was getting married in Thailand it was just the perfect opportunity for a chance to get away for a few weeks. We bought our tickets almost immediately and the time from then till now has just flown past, and so... today we leave.

This will be my 4th trip to Thailand so I'll be letting my brother make most of the decisions on what to do. We have a couple of things we will be doing for sure. First of course will be the wedding which is from the 15th to the 19th. Where we will be staying at the FC Villa on Ko Samui.



Second must do for us is the Full Moon Party on the 23rd on Ko Panghan. One of the largest beach parties in the world.



Other than that we would like to visit the Bridge on the River Kwai and hopefully some old temples or Wats as they are called here. The rest of the time we will just be relaxing on the beach, eating and drinking and of course some touristy stuff. Mopeds are cheap to rent so I expect we'll be doing a lot of cruising around and exploring.

I'll try to post on here as often as I can. Or at least when something interesting or exciting happens. Read if you like, and post comments. My brother is also writing a blog, http://ddthailand.wordpress.com/, where he will be posting some of his photos. He's a great photographer so it will be worth checking out.