To the Beaches!!!

Hi everyone, plans have changed a little and we've hit the beaches sooner than expected, but it was a choice that has already proved to be a good one.

The last time I finshed off we were leaving for the Golden Triangle. We've now done this trip and although it wasn't terribly exciting it's nice to be able to say that I've now crossed the border into Laos and had a look at the border gate into Bhurma. While I was at the border gate to Bhurma (a scene that resembled a flea market on steroids) I picked up a small tripod for my camera so hopefully some good sunset photos are in the pipeline. To get to Laos we hired a long tail speedboat that took us along the Mekong River and crossed over to the other side. The speciality in Laos is this Snake Whiskey that they make. Just like the Mexicans put worms in their tequila so the Laosians (????) put snakes in their whiskey. All of a sudden tequila sounds like drinking chocolate milkshakes. Looking at Snake Whiskey and not trying it would be a sin, so the only fair way to decide which sucker would sample some of the stuff was to settle the issue with a ching (rock, paper, scissors). I knew I should have pulled rock, damnit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The trip to the Golden Triangle was a mission and we did over 600kms in a mini taxi which was a test of character in itself. Part of the day trip included a stop in to the long neck tribes people. Originally from Kenya these guys just sit around like animals in the zoo while tourists like us come along and have our pictures taken with them. It was kind of weird but at the same time pretty cool to see these ladies in the flesh with all these rings around their necks.

The next day we just spent cruising around Chiang Mai and took in some temples and things. That night we took our overnight train back to Bangkok. The overnight train really is one of the coolest ways to travel. It takes 15 hours but in reality if you drink enough beers you end up sleeping until there's only 1 hour left to go. So we drank a lot of beers and slept through the night only waking up after 10 the following morning.

Before we left Chiang Mai we booked some flights from Bangkok to Phuket. We could have caught another overnight train but the difference in price was minimal so now we're camped just outside of Phuket a day earlier than originally expected. Bren and Laura have laughed off Cambodia and replaced it with more days on the beach. This means that Colin and I will probably do Cambodia once Bren and Laura have left for SA which also means that it could tie in nicely with me doing Cambodia and Vietnam with Greg and Matt hopefully. (Matt have you booked those tickets yet????)
Our first night in Phuket was spent in Putong which is on the West side of the peninsula. All I can say is that I would reccommend that you never ever go and visit this place. It basically resembles something similar to a Vegas on the beach, but in a tacky way. All along the main street you just have loads and loads of markets all selling the same stuff with bars along the side with music blaring out on to the streets. Lights everywhere and it's in all out assault on the senses. Prices are inflated and there are more lady boys around than I care to mention. In some ways it was quite interesting to see exactly what I didn't come to the beaches to do but at the same time witness what so many foreigners seem to think is a great holiday. Crazy stuff!!!

The next day our mission was to find some accommodation outside of the madness and within budget. So we hired some bikes again and went riding. I have to admit that riding these bikes around is something I'm growing to enjoy more and more and it's such an awesome way to see Thailand. You have to be careful though cos every now and again you get a little cocky and try do wheel spins which generally ends in tears.

We found some accommodation and for half the price we are literally just 50 meters from the beach. So much better than staying at the Yorkshire Inn in Putong (I kid you not). Here's a pic of our hut that we're sleeping in now.

That brings us to yesterday which was spent on the beach for the entire day. I had to stay under the umbrella for most of the day as the day before when I was testing the sun, the sun won. I was determined to get a tan in one day and now I've got it but I just look like the lobsters that you see for sale on the side of the streets here.

Last night was spent first back on the beach for afternoon sundowners and then back at our posie for a dinner and some rum. Very chilled and helluva relaxing. Today we're booking a ferry across to Ko Phi Phi which is an island off from here and we will leave tomorrow morning at sparrows. Apparently the beaches only get better as we go from here so looking very forward to that. Anyway that's all for now. Speak to you soon again, cheers for now. Baj