no sleep til...Bangkok

I started writing this post a couple of days in an effort to blog my farewell...but as you can see, it didn't quite happen...Somehow between the last minute photo-shoots, facials, goodbyes and...vaccinations, I ran out of time.  Tragically, I also did not get around to charging my phone, and so was fairly gutted as it died whilst I was literally texting my goodbyes on the tarmac!

So let me take this moment to thank everyone for their goodbyes and words that left me with tear stains on my cheeks before we had even reached altitude!

I arrived pretty late in Bangkok and so after I reached my hostel it was all I could manage to find out my adaptor was 'out of order' (doh!) before I fell into a deep slumber...

And then it was morning...

It was exciting going for my first little wander in the back alleys around Khao San Road - you might never say this place is pleasing on the eye but I like to think it has charisma. I find it enlivening deciding things like, how to blend in, which direction to walk, where to get your first massage, where to eat, what to eat...

The guy in middle could be the twin of my friend
Colombian friend Alejandro

About 50 metres from my hostel I had a pretty cool encounter with some tailors I came across trying to get my coat fixed. I had forgotten all about the 'bartering system' and was aghast when they quoted me some obscene amount to do the job.  Somehow though between shaking my head in disbelief, intermittently excusing myself whilst I blew my nose, and mentioning that 'yes, 200 Baht does make a difference when you're going unpaid for a year in Nepal!', we managed to shake on an amount that I could live with. Anyway, back to my story: these guys were Burmese refugees whose grandfathers, get this, were both 'Gurkhas'!!!!^ So, my first real conversation in Thailand was interspersed with Nepali! How cool!

Next stop:  'Madame Joe's'...the name says it all!

Fisherman pants

A few years (ok...9 years ago but who's counting?) Sahs and I were introduced to this little guesthouse by our friend Michelle (our Intrepid tourguide) over a pretty memorable brekky and a not half bad coffee. We had not been able to find it again when we visited last year, so I was pretty stoked when I stumbled on it further down the alley from the tailors...



Madame Joe's masseuse had the touch so I decided to extend my massage for another hour...and get a pedicure while they were at it...(two words: potato peeler he he)

After MJ's had rendered me thoroughly vegetative I thought I should walk the relaxation off...so I headed to the street market and got my first pad thai with squid extra chili...yummmmmmmmmmmm! The only thing missing was Sahs...I cannot say I really like eating on my own...I like the banter about condiments, or even eating utensils - she would say: "ooo give me that chili", and I would say, "you're going to regret this, but yes, here you are. How do you have so much control over your chopsticks? I think I must hold mine differently..."

After my walk I went back to the hostel for a chill and coke (out of a glass bottle - officially the best way to have coke) before heading out on my next adventure...to the bus station. The guy at reception told me I had to catch the '501' bus which would be just on the other side of the main road. So I followed his directions and set out full of hope and loaded up to the hilt - I know I have appeared pretty ridiculous in similar scenarios in the past but this was an all new level of ridiculous and almost brought me to tears...I had my backpack on my back, my daypack (which is, perhaps, heavier than my backpack - stupid weight limits!) on my front, my witno bag, and then a brown paper bag which of course tore! and finally my hiking boots dangling somewhere. And it was hot! So finally, I got bothered (or 'bovered')...

I never did find/see the '501' and finally relented to a taxi:(

My bus ride to Phuket was a little longer than expected, totalling 15 hours...but apart from the air conditioner which pelted out air like the winds of Siberia...'I no complain'...and at about 10:00 this morning I found myself finally in Kata town - woohoo!!! Where I promptly went to the beach and passed out in the sun...but, worry not readers, I succumbed to the beach umbrella (ella ella ella) and deck chair so appear not to be too blistered!

Kata Beach

And now...after enjoying my first margarita, I am about to embark on my first green curry! 'Aroy ma!'

^ Gurkhas: Warrior race of Nepalis known for their fearlessness. They fought against the British in the 1800s but were never overthrown, thus Nepal became a protectorate. The British Army was so impressed they began to recruit Gurkhas and continue to do so.

               'If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying
               or is a Gurkha.' - Sam Manekshaw