THE BEST THINGS ABOUT THAILAND PART 1

This was going to be a list of the top ten best things but it keeps growing and growing.

1. Chickens in trees - I still cannot believe that chickens can climb trees

2. Candy cheese - It is like cheese but is also like sweets. It is like combining two great things in one. Why has no one ever thought of this before?

3. Weeing in swimming pools - This isn’t unique to Thailand but it is far more common to get drunk in a swimming pool here and one thing leads to another.

4. Banana and honey pancakes - Personally I prefer banana and chocolate but if you have ever seen the joy on Donna’s face when she is eating a banana and honey pancake you will understand why this makes the list.

5. Pedicures - In particular cheap pedicures and the laughter I give to the ladies working there when I get my nails painted.

6. 7-11s - Is there nothing you cannot buy in a 7-11? and it is so cheap and the food is so good.

7. Bum guns - See previous post

8. Barracuda restaurant on Koh Tao - The best meal we have had...baracuda stuffed with feta cheese and sun blessed tomatoes surrounded by parma ham and pesto sauce served with sweet potato mash and garlic potatoes (you can never have too many potatoes). The sort of place I never want to go back to because no meal could be as good again.

9. The half moon party - I can’t remember the last time I stayed up until 5 in the morning just dancing and dancing. I don’t particularly like electronica music but those djs were brilliant.

10. Green curry at Jordan’s guesthouse - Donna has claimed she has had better green curries since but this was the first good curry she had and she was very very happy.

11. Gavin and Stacey - Particularly on the night train. The perfect tv series for curled up on our bunk as the train rattled along.

12. Sunset on the ferry to Koh Tao - Storm clouds, open water and the most beautiful colours you will ever see.

13. Tanya the puppy - Lived at the Golden Beach resort on Koh Phangan, didn’t understand the concept of fetch or any other game for that, loved chewing hands, very cute.

14. Polishing my ring - That moment when it becomes shiny and looks like proper jewelry

15. Outdoor showers - At the yoga retreat. There is something special about al fresco showering, especially when it is big enough and powerful enough for two of you to fit in.

16. 8.30am at the yoga retreat - That magical moment when you have successfully survived an hour and a half of torture and know that you can now go and enjoy a well deserved breakfast and chill out for the day, at least until the 4pm when the next torture session starts (5.30 pm has a similar feelgood factor but I think the morning feeling just tops it)

17. Horrible Histories - The TV show. Has there ever been such a good hangover tv show. Funny, lighthearted, educational and with some killer songs thrown in.

18. The woman who happily sold me a bottle of Samson Whiskey even though it was Budha day - And happily sold us more beer when we went back later and tried to point out she had large bottles which I had missed.

19. Milky massage - The perfect recovery after 3 days of yoga. Milky massage refers to the oils they rub into your skin and not, as some of you may be thinking, to a happy ending.

20. Dutch people - Or more particularly discovering the origins of where the word ‘dutch’ comes from and then finding some dutch people to impress with my knowledge of knowing where the word ‘dutch’ comes from

21. ‘Can I touch your beard’ - Still the best conversation starter out there (only works on men with beards)

22. Cheese and wine - In the very expensive Portuguese restaurant on Koh Phangan. It may of cost us a week’s accommodation but, By Gum, it was worth it.

23. Testing the beer - Sitting with Jordan on our second day, systematically testing all the different beers on offer in Thailand until we decided on our favourite one. A fine all day drinking session in the name of research. We have stuck with Leo ever since.

24. Eggs at the Golden Beach Resort - There was something special about the eggs we had for breakfast every morning there.

25. Our cocktail bar in Bangkok - Just a little street bar next to our guesthouse. There was nothing special about it other than we popped in there most nights to enjoy a cheeky white russian and mojito and watch the world go by. It is those little moments that make you happy.