Day 49: Passports, Beaches, and McDonalds

Alright, well, we haven't written in a while, but I can't say there was really much to write about. Haven't taken many pictures on Ko Samui yet, so we'll entertain you with some of us on Ko Tao still. The first picture up is the only one from Ko Samui, and it's the view from our Bungalow to the beach. We do have one somewhat amusing story, but I'll move to that later in the post. After our diving/scooter adventures finished up on Ko Tao, we picked up our meager belongings and headed off to Ko Samui for a busier and much more touristy beach.

Personally, I was a little sad to leave Ko Tao behind. The food was absolutely amazing for one. There was a sandwhich shop there that easily rivals and sandwhich I have had.... ever. Who ever knew that putting Pesto on a sandwhich is a fantastic idea. Then there was the Mediterranean restaurant, with easily the best Spaghetti Carbonara I've ever eaten. I liked it so much that I actually got it four times while we were on the island. The prices you ask? A mere $5 for the spaghetti, and the sandwhich was only $1.50, on fresh baked bread no less.

Now to the interesting story part. Elise and I went the morning that she was planning to leave to return the scooter she rented. The rest of us weren't going to return until later that day, so it was only the one we were bringing back. You have to give your passport to the rental place when you rent a bike, so when she returned the bike, she got a Canadian passport back. (I'm sure you can tell where this story is headed.) Her boat left at 10 that morning, so we scootered her over to the dock and had breakfast while we waited for her boat to come in. Boat came, we said our goodbyes, with many tears I might add, and off we were again. Spent the rest of the day Scootering around the island, and stopped in at Shark Bay to do some snorkelling. Didn't get a chance to see any sharks, but we did see some other really amazing fish. (Titan Triggerfish, Angelfish, Banner Fish, Long Toms, and Mike even saw a stingray.) At one point in the snorkeling we cornered thousands of small black fish into a little alcove create by the rocks. I wish we had the underwater camera for that one, because it was amazing.

We had to have our bikes back to the shop by 1, so we headed back to return them. Got them back in with no problems, and were handed three Canadian passports. Imagine my surprise when I open one up and.... a girl's face. Oh Sh#t!!!!! Turns out that the shop gave Nevin's passport to Elise, and the two of us for some reason didn't check it when she got it back. So now, Nevin's passport is on it's way to Bangkok, and Elise's is in our hands back on Ko Tao. To complicate it even further, her flight leaves the next day to go back home. It could be tough trying to board with Nevin's passport. A mad administration scramble, and we actually manage to track her down via some Thai person's cellphone on the bus to Bangkok. Manage to get it figured out that her passport will leave by boat, then bus, and get to Bangkok around two in the morning, and she sends Nevin's back down to Ko Tao. It ended up all working, and everyone got the needed passports in time to make everything run smoothly again.

So anyways, we took the high speed Catamaran to Ko Samui, and we've been chilling out here ever since. Lots of Frisbee, a little bit of sunburn, and alot of relaxing. Watched some pretty entertaining soccer one night, and saw Australia lose a nail biter to Italy on a penalty kick, in injury time, on a call that shouldn't have even been a penalty. It was pretty annoying. Then we wathced Brazil walk all over Ghana. Tied that night up a few bottles of Sangsom whiskey, and Mike with the bright idea of sleeping on the porch.

Last night we ended up at an Irish pub, listening to a live band that we actually saw twice while we were on Ko Tao. It was again very fun. Other than that, nothing much is new around here. We don't like to get too eventful on holidays. We're gonna empty the backpacks out a bit and send some stuff home that we haven't used, or don't plan on using in the near future.

Oh, if you want us to buy you stuff, be it designer purses, hats, etc. let us know soon, and maybe we can throw it in the package. There's quite a selection on Samui.

Until later,

Luke

Day 41: Dive, Dive

Highlighs

- I'm healthy
- started scuba diving lessons
- practiced playing with balls

Helpful Hints

- bring all of your own sunscreen...they just don't get it over here
- no tight cotton t-shirts, bring coolmax, lycra, sleeveless, or button-up
- actually brings and don't-brings will take a whole post...so that'll be later

My biggest piece of advice for travellers is "don't get sick!". It really puts a stop on your trip. Luckily Luke and Nevin had some good weather to waste time while I was recovering but overall I don't think it was a positive experience. I was very scared going it because, hey, it's Thailand. They don't have real hospitals here right?! Well, the clinic just down the road from our hotel proved me wrong. They had a great doctor and a great staff. I've never felt so comfortable being uncomfortable. Anyway, better now, on with the show.

One thing you may have noticed back home is that the Stanley Cup Playoffs are over. (What?) And sadly, we did not win. (sigh) I'm so amazed that the Oil were able to work hard and get to where they did. Don't need to say more. What you will notice over here now are shiny chins. Along with the playoffs when the awesome playoff beards. Here's the convo:

"Augh! I can't believe we just lost!"

"Yeah, but it sounded like the Oil were still playing an amazing game."

"True....so want to go shave this s#@t off our chins?"

"Sweet"

Probably not going to do that again. The Oilers are on their own next year. We've also started our diving lessons but it's tough to get pictures of that since digital cameras and water still don't mix. This morning we were swimming around our hotel pool to get the basics and tomorrow we hit the open water. At the end of 4 days (and $270) we will all have our PADI certification and can start diving where ever we want. Next stop, Wabamun Lake! Maybe not.

We still have time to do our main relaxing. After our class today we went back down to Sai Ree beach again for some frisbee, sand writing, and playing with balls...flaming balls. Okay, so they're not flaming yet but our practice juggling set is getting some use. They are tennis balls attached to three foot lengths of rope. You swing them around in circles trying to do neat cross-over moves, spinning front to back, or maybe some stalls. The pros do it at night with their swinging masses are doused in gasoline and lit on fire...very cool. Nevin and Luke both have some pretty consistent moves but I still like watching them try the new stuff. No one has sacked themselves yet but it's only a matter of time.

This should be good for now. The next couple days holds much of the same. Diving, playing with balls, diving, playing with balls. Live it up.

Day 36: Ko Tao and Diving

I know we haven't posted in quite a while, so I'll just give a quick update right now. Two days after the full moon party, we took a boat taxi over to bottle beach on Ko Pha Ngan. This was a generator run beach that only had power at certain hours of the day, and internet was 5 Baht a minute, so we didn't get a chance to get on and write another post. Stayed there for three days, and actually upon arrival met three wicked Canadian girls. Upon further conversation, turns out that they're actually from St. Albert, which was quite surprising. Talked to them for a while and ended up staying at the same resort that we were.

Spent a whole day on the beach hanging out and having a really good time. The subject comes up that they actually ran into some other people from St. Albert at Hat Rin before the full moon party. They give a name, and it turns out to be none other than Steve Jackson. I know that most of you besides my friends don't actually know anything about him, but it's a guy that I went to Kindergarten and high school with. Hung out with him a bit, and realized that for some people, High School is a life long adventure that they just don't get past.

Dad, above and to the right is the picture I mentioned in the comments section so you can show Grandma
We spent the next three days at this relatively secluded beach playing loads of frisbee, and basically just relaxing. All in all, it was a great experience, and I think I would go back at the drop of a hat. Again we got a beach bungalow for $15 a night with another fantastic view, and we bought a hammock, so we could waste away the hours lying around reading and relaxing.

Being the rock hopper that I am, I spent a lot of time with one of the girls exploring all the rocks that shoulder the beach. Mike and Nevin were pretty pleased to sit around and read, but I was in a more adventurous mood.

This morning, we took a ferry to Ko Tao, an island renowned for it's amazing scuba diving, and wouldn't ya know it, we're all now magically signed up to become PADI certified scuba divers. (Mom, Dad, may need to get that loan before planned.) Instruction starts tonight, and our first session is tomorrow during the day. It sounds like we get five or six dives, all at different depths, and the company that we are going with sounds great.

Right now I'm trying to download Skype on this computer so I can phone Mr. Tenove. Turns out Mike isn't feeling good at all, so he and Nevin are down at the clinic right now trying to figure out what's up. From the symptoms that I've seen, it looks like a pretty weird fever, but I'm sure he'll be kicking again in no time at all.

We're all doing great and still absolutely loving it over here. Mike's a bit choked because he worries that he may not be able to do the scuba, but we'll wait here as long as we have to so we can all get it. Everything is good over here, and I hope that everything is fantastic at home. We will phone all of you when we get the chance, and you'll see some pictures of our more than fantastic tans right away.

Day 31: Gearing up for the Full Moon!!!

Well, Nevin and I are just sitting here listening to the third period of the Oilers game. Everything is so slack on this island that nothing opens till 9, so we couldn't listen to the start. This island just gets better every day. Yesterday, we spent pretty much the whole day at the beach, and it was fantastic. Way more b.b.b.b's yesterday as well. Don't worry, we got some pictures, and will get more, for all the Dads out there (Mr. Purser, I believe you had some requests.)

The beach here is absolutely amazing and our tans are quickly getting to be great. Played a lot of frisbee yesterday, and completely got shown up by one of the locals. That guy knew how to really throw a frisbee. Chilled out at our room for a bit, and while we were there a huge wind storm started. Nevin was out on the deck and I was inside. When I got out of the washroom, I tried closing the washroom door, but there was so much pressure that closing the door actually ripped the door handle off. Then I look up and realize that all of the pressure is actually lifting up our ceiling panels and carting them around the roof.

We decided to hope for the best and leave our place mid storm. Headed down to a seafood restaurant for some amazing food. A bit more expensive than we're used to but I'm not going to complain about paying $9 for a meal with great salad and two huge barracuda steaks. Nevin had the red snapper, and I think he was a bit surprised that it actually came as the entire fish just grilled up. The storm must have done something, because we kept losing power during the meal.

After that, it was time to head to the beach to try to catch some of the England/Paraguay soccer game with a few thousand absolutely psychotic brits. Turns out it didn't end in a riot since England won 1-0. Not a very exciting game, but it was pretty cool to be sitting on beach blankets watching the world cup on a 300" projection screen.

Tonight is the full moon party, which means theres gonna be a lot of sleeping during the day today. Party starts whenever you want it to, and goes till about 11 in the morning. Should be quite the show out on the beachh. 10,000 people goin crazy all night long, I can't wait.

Well, we're off to listen to the rest of the game. We may post some pics in this one later, I'm not really sure. Have a good time at home enjoying the rain. I'm kind of getting used to this 30+ weather we got going. I don't think I've worn a shirt for more than five minutes at a time for the last three days.

Day 24: Tubing in Vangvieng

Highlights

-TUBING!! (the river here is incredible)
-staying at super nice hotels for so cheap
-massive rope swing
-partying with the Irish
-watching movies with each meal

Helpful Hints

-going to bars that already have a lot of people is a good idea
-don't order from the "special" menu
-eat at the Sakura restauant, best place in Vangvieng by far

I am loving it here in Vangvieng. It's hard not to love a town where you can stay on the top floor of a nice hotel/guest house with an amazing view for $2/night each, lie on pillows watching movies while you eat every meal, and spend the rest of the day tubing on a river and drinking beer. That described yesterday and I'm sure today will be similar.

Getting here was not quite as enjoyable. The bus from Luang Prabang was similar to the Disneyland roller coasters at the beginning of my trip. The driver was taking corners at disturbing speeds with no real regard for which side of the thin road he was on. I guess he thought that honking the horn before each blind corner is enough of a warning for anything coming the other way. The rule in Laos (and Thailand): the bigger vehicle has the right of way. Don't mess with that.

Back to our current town. One of the main tourist attractions here is reruns of "Friends". Seriously, half of the restaurants here show friends from 9:00 am until they close. The other half play movies all day, some illegally bootlegged, some that seem legit. The one thing they all have is a "lie-down-while-you-eat" setup. You all lounge around a short table in the middle of your booth, sitting on pillows, and eating mostly very good food.

The other draw to this town in the river. You can rent tubes for cheap and float down the river near the town. There's about a dozen riverside bars along the way, only a couple of which you would really call a bar, so you can float and drink all day. We stopped at only one place yesterday, the one with the huge rope-swing. I'd try to describe how huge it is but I can't, just look at the pictures.

Now parents, before you get all concerned about how dangerous this is, I'll end your uncertainty...it IS dangerous. More than a few people took painful looking plunges from the take-off platform, other landing very awkwardly at other points in their swing. Luckily for the people we're there with there's been a lifeguard on duty. Several of the girls we've met won't attempt it unless I'm in the water below waiting for them. It's nice to be needed. Other than swimming after an abandoned tube down the river (one girl couldn't make it to the side in time so she just jumped of her tube deciding that the bar was more important) I haven't had to do much.

The swing is great though. It's setup so that everyone in the bar can watch you. Luke was definitely impressing the gallery with his back flips. The biggest cheers (well, maybe not cheers but more painful gasps) come when someone bites it big. I'm just going to stop now, I can't describe it better than the pictures.

We had a good party last night too. We met a buch of Irish girls on the slow boat and a couple more on the river yesterday. We got together for some drinks (oh, Lucas's cousin, Dorian, is also with us now) at a place near our hotel. First we ordered off the regular menu but after a while they brought out the "Special" menu. You could get mushroom shakes, happy pancakes, or opium tea for very cheap...interesting. I was happy to stick to my beer or red bull with vodka. Some of the others ordered drinks that came in buckets with about 5 straws. Good night though.

Our next stop on the trip is Vientiane. We were originally planning on taking another bus but we found out that they offer one-day kayaking trips to Vientiane down the river. Sweet! We leave our big bags locked up on the truck, hit some easy rapids, do some cliff jumping, and arrive at the next city in the evening. So, nice little Monday planned. :)

PS: Jeff, I tried calling you again...do you even have my cellphone yet?

Also, there were far too many tubing/swinging pictures to post them all in the blog so we made another Flickr Slideshow...enjoy

New Update June 6
We are now in Vientaine. Kayaking was a great time. Nevin and I fell in due to my inability to steer. hit three light rapids sets. We are going to stay here until Wednesday or Thursday night. After that, we are going to head down to the islands to try and hit the first full moon party. After that, its all beaches for the next two months.
We'll add pictures to this post as soon as possible.

Luke

End of the Update

Day 21: Luang Prabang

Highlights

-lot's of relaxing on the slow boat
-meeting some fellow Canadians (and loyal Oilers fans)
-amazing scenery along the Mekong River
-dancing at a questionable club

Helpful Hints

-do not allow someone to set you up with a girl at a dance club in Laos...they're prostitutes
-wear sunscreen on boat trips
-look for a good deal on hotels in Luang Prabang...if you're patient you'll find them

Day 21, that means I've been gone for 3 whole weeks. Wow...fast. We're now in Luang Prabang in Laos. Last we talked to you we had finished cooking in Chiang Mai and had listened to the Oilers clinch a playoff finals berth on the radio. We've come a long way since then.

We left Chiang Mai in a mini bus for a 5 hour dive north to a town on the Laos border called Chiang Khong. Huge rain storm that night complete with lightning. Next morning we caught our first slowboat for the first half of the journey. We had a few more rainy spots that threatened to rip the tarps off the side of the boat. Crappy little benches but it was an enjoyable float.

We stayed the night in the village of Pak Beng. Nice place but it seems everyone is trying to rip you off. Luke and I got a little drunk that night playing cards with some other Edmontonians and I definitely payed too much for a poor breakfast the next morning but the village was nice overall (the roosters were freaking annoying but we're getting used to that).

The boat we took the second day was much nicer. They had what looked like seats from mini-vans bolted to the floor so I spent the trip lounging, reading a new book, playing some Sudoku, and visiting with people from, really, all over the world. I love that English is the "visiting medium" here. The scenery was much better the second day too. Limestone cliffs, gigantic trees, huge whirlpools, and lots of dangerous looking rocks sticking out of the water.

In Luang Prabang we decided we were tired of paying outrageous prices for our hotel rooms (in Chiang Mai it was 700 baht per night or $21 CDN) so we walked around with some other Canadians from Vancouver searching for a deal. We found a great place not too far from the night market or the river for 40,000 Kip per night...or $4 USD. So yes, we're each paying $1.33 per night to stay in the city. At least we didn't have to stay at one of those places trying to scam us for $6 per night.

Ooh, you're going to love the next bit. We met up with some other people from the boat trip to go for supper at this Indo-China place. Sat on the floor, ate with our fingers, and drank some Laos whiskey. After our waiter (about our age) told us about a good dance club and we insisted he come with us. It was a dance club alright...but still not one you'd see in Canada. Lots of couches surrounding the dance floor with 40-50 year old guys separated by 15-25 year old girls. We'd been drinking but were still on our guard.

The Laos people like to do a lot of line dancing, not like ours to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band but still similar. We tried to figure it out but were still failing horribly by the end of the first song. I busted out a few of my ballroom moves with a girl from France who'd come with us but later I was shown that you don't dance like that in Laos. Instead you dance apart from the girl, not touching, and doing this weird spinny thing with your wrists (kind of looking like the buddha statues). We asked the waiter/guide who had brought us here which Laos girls we could try to pick up. He left for a bit and then came back to introduce us to some girls sitting in the back near the door. You could instantly see that they were prostitutes. I was a bit worried but still politely chatted for a minute and then ran back to my seat.

Our guide tried again with some girls on the dance floor. We thought "finally, some normal girls" but at the end he let us know that "if you no take, you no pay". WHAT!? More prostitutes? I just gave up at this point.



So, instead of dancing for entertainment Luke, Nevin, and Stash (from Vancouver) thought it was time for some karaoke. Even with the live band they were allowed up on stage to take the mic. The song was "Let It Be" and I must say...they were pretty terrible. I have video proof for when I get home. Luke stayed out a bit later to visit with some drunk guy from Vietnam and another with three wives that liked to say cheers and chug beer. So, exciting night. Not going back tonight but we're meeting up with the same waiter/guide to go to a true karaoke place. Should be fun.

It's done pouring outside so it's time for some more exploring. Peace.