Okay this is a continuation of the last blog, just trying to catch up to the present then I can let you know where I REALLY am. I tried to post this in the airport but the stupid internet cut me off just as I was about to click! Doh!
Meanwhile on Ko Phangan... My friend Laura from spanish class back in Sheffield had arrived to party with us at Full Moon. She had been feeling pretty bad with some flu-like symptoms and hadn't actually made it out of bed. On the third day she took a turn for the worse and we were pretty worried, so the LOVELY staff at Amaresa drove us down to a reputable clinic to get her checked out. They put her on a drip and did loads of blood tests. Turns out it was Dengue Fever - pretty bad news - but not the worst thing you can get out here. She had to be whisked off on a speed boat to Ko Samui for treatment in hospital. It was really distressing to see my friend so weak and upset when she's normally the most bubbley person you'll meet. It's proper bad luck getting D.F. It's basically just one type of mozzie that bites you in the day time and there's no vaccine against it. It whacks your white blood cells right down and can be really dangerous if not treated. So watch out for those flu-like symptoms travellers!! Laura's been travelling since April, the opposite direction on the route I'm taking. I was gutted for her to be in that state. It is the worst thing to be so far from home and so ill. It scared me a litte to be honest.
Apart from this horrible event our time in Ko P. was amazing. We bumped into loads of people we've met on our travels (including our friend Dave (real name Will!) the Texan we met in Vietnam) and lots of Tubers too. It's great to see familiar faces on a beach of 10,000 people! We were so sad when our team of girls left. We had made such good friends and had so much fun in just 3 days, especially getting all neon-painted up at full moon.
My 25th birthday arrived uneventfully, as we sat outside a tattoo shop, contemplating whether I could afford some birthday artwork. (I could not). But a bucket was bought in celebration from my favourite Bucket-Sellers Emma and Tom. We watched the firey skipping rope and tug of war and then called it an early night beacuse the 28th was a travelling day (you need proper sleep for these days!). I woke up and it was still my birthday. Had the lovely surprise of chocolate cake for breakfast from the staff, it even had my name on it! I cannot stress enough how amazingly kind, generaous and warm they were there. In general the Thai people are like that, but they went above and beyond what is usually expected from hotel staff. I went out and spoiled myself on a Thai massage. Wow. It was good. They do all these amazing streches and muscle things. I swear the whole of Haad Rin heard my back crack! We had one last shop, chicken sandwich and headed off to the ferry. Oh yeah one last thing about our time in Ko P... Nai became addicted... to Chicken. The chicken population of Ko P. has been desimated. It became abit of an in-joke; EVERYTIME we saw her on nights out she had some. She even started roping in groups of french people into her obbession! Hahah sorry for outing you Nai! Mum - Nai can apologise in person to the pet-poultry at home.
We then had an EPIC (and I realise now, completely insane) journey ahead of us.
THE JOURNEY TO END ALL JOURNEYS. You know Buddha (or someone..) once said "It is the journey that IS the reward"... Gotta disagree with you on this one old fella... 3 days, 3 nights, 3 airports, 3 flights. Very, very little sleep, food, or comfort. Low points; arriving at Surit Thani airport (which is in the middle of nowhere, literally) and finding our plan to sleep there was kinda confounded by the fact that it was shut. Stayed at a scary gloomy motel (better than the service station) got up at 5 and walked down the motorway about 2 miles to the airport. Great start. Then it was a 30 hour stint in Bangkok airport, getting whatever sleep we could on some benches about the place and surviving off cheap snacks frm the 7/11. Then having to say bye to Nai at 3am when she got her flight back to London. That was pretty tough. After spending 6 weeks not more than a few meters away from each other for more than a few minutes, it felt like losing a limb. I'm still talking to her in my head, but I'm sure that will pass and I'll just go back to talking to myself in my head again. haha. After Bangkok I had another LOVELY nights sleep in Singapore airport. Not as hospitable as it makes out. Literally slept on the floor. At this point I was getting some pretty odd looks. I guess I did look pretty rough. FINALLY flew into Kuching in Malaysian Borneo, where I am currently. Discovered there is now no bus from the airport (the lonely planet failed me! arghhhh!) so had to share a taxi with some french/russian couple, who were lovely and paid for me. The generosity of other travellers always confirms my faith in human kindness. Also confirmed that I must look REALLY desperate! Got myself to a nice cheap little hostel, dorm to myself, 20 hours sleep, BAM.
I'll let you know how I'm getting on in Borneo once I've done some stuff. I'm here for two weeks so I'm being pretty lazy about activities at the moment. Off to the jungle for 3/4days tomorrow, so I'll blog when I get back.
Take care everyone, missing you all! (especially you stinks :))
Ellie