Hello from ko Phangan!

...Finally...we find a freakin Internet cafe that'll upload our photos... maybe.

They told us Ko pha ngan wasn't the place to go if you wanted to chill, that it's all party and mushroom shakes. Well... through a fortuitous meeting with a fellow traveller and chill-seeker, we have just spent the last few days in paradise. Claire was nice enough to take mercy on us and intervene during a taxi ride to our initial destination, told us about a beach not many people know about, quiet, as yet unspoilt by tourism and cigarette butts, and we JUMPED at the opportunity, took a risk and followed... Unfortunately we were sworn to secrecy...there is a map though... heheh...

Butterflies everywhere, huge ones, all different colours! And lots of little lizards. Massive rude ants! The beach is only reachable by 4x4 or by boat or a long hilly walk if yr too "poeperig" (scared) to take the via-the-jungle shortcut. We are in heaven.

On a typical day we wake at 7 (yup, voluntarily) to go sit in the little eating area and take in the beauty and quietness of the early morning while we write in our journals and drink tea&coffee sweetened with condensed milk. Then we head down to the beach to get the little green boat and paddle out to the edge of the bay, attach it to one of the buoys and get our snorkel kit on. Then, the usual routine:- K: But I'm scared D:But there's nothing to be scared of! K: OK, but you go first, if nothing eats you, THEN i'll get in!
Then we jump into the water and explore the reef. It is beautiful and exciting and scary and inspiring all at the same time! (but watch out for the sea monsters!)
Having survived that, we spend the rest of the day swinging on a hammock, reading, suntanning, chilling, drinking fruit shakes or beer shandies, (yes Deanie, Darren is STILL a girl!) eating eating eating.
Thai people are so friendly and welcoming, the (sea)food is great, and everything is SO affordable. Accommodation=4quid a day? Whatthe...?!!!

Other things:

• Watch out for falling coconuts! Holy guacamole they fall hard and fast and with NO warning! One of the locals said that there are over a hundred deaths per year from falling-coconut-injuries!
• The toilet system is somewhat bizarre. Firstly, you cant put bogroll into the toilet, it has to go into a dustbin next to the toilet (ey?!!). Actually, the authentic Thai way of doing the business is to NOT use loo paper at all, and then you simply clean yr...bits...with this water spray (every single Thai toilet comes equipped with i guess it's like a mini-hose pipe), as well as giving the entire toilet seat a spray afterwards too. Then there's no flushing. You have to manually flush the loo with water from a bucket, also left next to the loo. A whole new experience i tell ya. Anyone with toilet issues will be cured on THIS little venture that's for sure!
• Thai time is VERY similar to Africa time. Chill, bru
• Sa wat di (ka/krap for girl/boy) = hello. Showing respect and being polite is very important. ...and don't point yr feet at them!
• "Same same, but different" is the most common english saying in Thailand.
• I CUT DARREN'S HAIR!!! Yup folks... Darren actually sat down on our little balconyt and let me cut his hair by the dim dodgy light of our little bungalo with a pair of BLUNT SCISSORS!!! Look, i think he looks seriously cute okay? Lisa, i think you'd be proud!!! Darren himself can be quoted directly as saying "...it's a lot better than i expected". Well we passed the test eh? The big "girl-cuts-boyfriends-hair-and-relationship-survives?" test. Nice.

Finally...Darren Levin drove a scooter folks! And he was a little ace on it! We went into the nearest town, called Tongsala (i'm sure the spelling's wrong) with Claire(UK) and Tyler(Canadian), 2 cool travellers we've been spending time with here. They were nice enough to show us around a bit. Went to these coooool steam Saunas run by Buddhist monks, steam filled with herbs and spices, kinda like sitting in a giant Thai soup! Then after 15 mins or when you cant stand it anymore you go outside and pour this cold water over yourself. Very invigorating and refreshing! Then we each had an oil massage. 1 hr of delicious pampering for just over 4 pounds. Ridiculous...sigh...

Well that's all for now. Tomorrow we leave for Ko Tao to do some diving. WHoohoo!

Please keep in touch, stay safe and see you soon!

All our love,
XK&D