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Ko Samui 2nd-5th January 2013:
After Ko Pha Ngan Alex, Max, Charlotte and myself left Paul and headed to Ko Samui. We stayed in beach side bungalows for 300 baht a night, real classy place Max and I used our constructive skills to fix the fan which was adamant on only blowing air in any direction other than that of where it was needed. We were only in Ko Samui 3 nights but we seemed to squeeze in many activities, Mai Thai fighting, Elephant trekking, waterfalls, some fine dining and shooting range to name a few. The range was where I shot a gun for the 1st time. I thought I'd be 'gangster' and chose to shoot the Gloc 45, I admit I felt like billy big bolloks as I looked down the sight until I fired the 1st shot and was suddenly just Mcluvin from Superbad. The saying ''couldn't hit a cow's ass with a banjo'' sprang to mind. We also celebrated Alex's Birthday while on the island where the 3 of us bought him gifts, a complete Mai Thai fighters outfit. The next day Charlotte left us to travel Vietnam leaving the three of us guys to fend for ourselves and me with no one to argue over bottom bunk anymore. Our last day on this island we played football golf a highlight of my 1st few weeks, I had visions of my Beckham right foot planting the ball in the whole with ease…skip forward 10 holes, the 3 of us with welts on our feet thorns in our heels and me up a tree to rescue a stray shot, Max was also getting pissed off with his lack of putting ability. On the last hole the heavens opened drenching us so we decided on a dribbling race to the hole…. This ended with Alex taking a harsh tumble (Classic Alex) but all in all was a hilarious day out and a great end to the 4 days.
Khao Sok 5th-8th January 2013:
After the islands we headed back to the main land and decided to stop off in Khao Sok a national park. We stayed in tree top housing overlooking a rapids it was beautiful. Our landlords were very welcoming and that night we had a BBQ in the middle of the rain forest. I think the guys name Was Me but had been told it was You, which lead to some confusion on my part. In the morning we got a boat to deep inside the national park on a massive lake. The water was so clear and the limestone cliffs made it look like you were on the set of Avatar. We arrived out our floating shacks and were instantly diving in the fresh clear water amongst the cliffs it was a perfect setting. We went on several treks here in which we saw a variety of creatures like monkeys, small spiders, big spiders, lizards, bats and LEACHES! Was great fun especially the 'Bat Cave' where we ended neck deep in water with no torches scurrying through small gaps and avoiding the spiders. On our last day as we were watching the new arrivals doing as we had done checking out the digs and diving in enjoying themselves when all the sudden a Thai guy let out a cry 'Hey! Hey!' everyone's heads turned to a King Cobra swimming on the surface of the lake straight towards the new arrivals and there huts. The newcomers faces turned from joy to a 'shepherd's pie in pants' face as they scurried to get out the way with screams of ''Sna..Sna…Snaakkkee'' and '' Get out the water''. The commotion escalated with a Thai guy running out with an 8ft plank to scare the snake but it carried on straight into one of the huts and out the other side. I'm glad it was not my 1st day there as I would have been straight back on the boat and so we left with a smile telling the people to enjoy their stay.
Ko Phi Phi 8th-23rd January 2013:
From Khao Sok we headed for Krabbi and on to Ko Phi Phi Island where the 3 of us again clubbed in for a bungalow. I loved phi phi it had great beaches and was peaceful where we stayed yet had a mad club scene on the other side of the island. It was here where the power of Chang hit hard and on a heavy night ended with the 3 of us in a tattoo parlor, and me a walking advertisement for Chang beer. We also bumped into Bart on the island a guy from Holland who we had met a week back in Ko Pha Ngan and the 4 of us headed to a bar called Rolling Stoned. The bar was my favorite on the island and had a cover band that could play a great mixture of old and new rock songs and sounded great, I spent many of my nights here and got to meet a lot of the staff who were all friendly. We also did a boat tour too Maya Bay the place made famous by the film The Beach, as the boat rounded the corner I had the main theme of the film by Moby playing in my head but this came to a shuddering halt. What was once an untouched land had been replaced with a mass of tourists and boats. It didn't help I spent the time by the WC due to sea sickness, oddly enough the most tranquil place on the island. After some heavy nights and some great memories Alex's time to return home had come. The day after Max also left for Ko Lanta leaving me alone for the 1st time in my travels. The following day I decided cure my hangover I had awoken with by checking out the Phi Phi viewpoint, not the greatest move was hanging like Saddam and sweating my gooch off by the time I reached the top, but was well worth it. Once up the top of the viewpoint you can see the islands beauty, but looking at photos before the tsunami that devastated the landscape, you cant help but be saddened by how people cashed in on barren land to build a mass of resorts. I decided to wait till sunset for some photos and while waiting met a South African guy named Alan who introduced me to Banana bar a great chill out rooftop spot. I had already decided I wanted to do my diving so I booked myself into a flash packer's room with AC , cable and prepared for some early nights. I started with a discovery dive with my instructor Jordi, I had been told by everyone that diving was amazing and was excited to get involved. I didn't expect to be thrown into the deep end (patting self on back for pun). I freaked, I was sunk to around 8m and for the 1st 5minutes was struggling to breath, but Jordi helped and once calm I began to see the underwater world, it was breathtaking (and again) I was instantly hooked. The dive was great we practiced skills which were fine until Jordi's air blew out unexpectedly…. Me not knowing this stayed calm thinking it was a drill until a visibly panicked Jordi grabbed my backup regulator and we surfaced. I was commended on how calm I stayed during the distressing situation and played along with this although a new pair of underwear was now needed. The next day I started my PADI open water course and Fedi, my instructor got me through it fast so it seemed natural to go straight into advanced 5 days later I was finished but wanting more. It was great although I had felt slightly isolated; I was on the course on my own, in the room alone. I headed out still too Rolling Stoned and tried to get in the swing of the traveller way of meeting new people but struggled. Though the time in rolling stoned was still fantastic and ended up making some Thai friends like Zam, Noon, Jack, Pla, and Nitichai (sorry for spelling) who were all so friendly and had some great nights drinking and improvising BBQs outside the bar. I had ended up spending 2 weeks on Phi Phi and loved it my only regret is I did not get in the dorms and meet more people.
Ko Lanta 23rd-26th January 2013
I had ended up spending so much time in Phi Phi that I did not have time to do North Thailand (yet), so I decided to hop on a ferry and catch up with Max again before I headed off to the next Country. Ko Lanta was really peaceful and I managed to jump in with Max at a guesthouse called Susan's Corner. I arrived and was introduced to the group of English who Max had already been hanging with who all seemed great. Rory and Lauren a northern couple were a great laugh and I had a great time chilling pool side, until I dived in with Ipod and wallet in pocket. The day before we all left the owners of the guesthouse put on a BBQ and we clubbed in to pay for the food. With me and Max in the kitchen we got to work making kebabs. Max knocked up some mash which was a hit with the locals and with so much chicken we experimented with a fish sauce and anything else we could find which again went pretty quick, it was a fun night and at 4.30 I was asleep on a lylo outside the room. The next day I was taken by the owner to the nearest bus station and I began my journey to my next destination Laos.
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