froginmythroat (FIMT)

(10/1/3) Leaving Koh Pha Ngan, I took the night ferry. Two decks – one with mattresses the other with simple mats. I don’t know how the Thai people managed to sleep on the mats, the floor must have been especially spongy or maybe they had spongy backs. I got a good sleep.The ferry arrives at the mainland at 4am. A few people disembark but not everyone, so us foreigners, myself included, are left wondering “Are we there yet?”. Some Thai people are still on the boat but I determine this is where I should get off and catch my connection to Krabi. The bus didn’t leave till 6:30am so we were taken to a little restaurant and watched a video CD (all the Thais have them, why don’t we in NZ?) Read the rest of this entry »

(4/1/3) I took the overnight train to Surat Thani. A 2nd class sleeper with a nice little bed. Slept well too. When I arrived the touts herded us into a bus and then ferry which took me to my destination – Koh Samui. Read the rest of this entry »

Exiting Laos stage left I find myself in Ubon Ratchathani.Its my first experience of Thailand outside Bangkok, and it’s so different. Nice tree lined roads. Relaxed pace. No pestering. Friendly people – a local vendor tells me there’s a big fair going down in the name of New Year’s would I like to come with her? Sure why not. The fair’s got rides, games of luck, live music, and a bus that’s converted into a mobile public toilet. Read the rest of this entry »