Last week we took the long bus ride to koh samet. We found ourselves on the front seat next to the driver as, of course, the big air-con coach we were promised, turned into a minibus. Being on the middle seat with no seat belt or head rest I felt a bit apprehensive about whether or not I would live to see koh samet... my confidence was not inspired when the driver took three attempts to put the bus into second gear from from first before realising that sometimes using the clutch helps .
On the boat from the bus to the island we were laughed at by a couple while we were taking pictures of our barbies enjoying the sea air.
We enjoyed a few days of the beach with breakfast and dinner by the sea, where apparently for the people working in the restaurants, as with many places in Thailand, service was optional. Failed miserably to get a tan.
We found ourselves followed around by Japanese tourists wanting to take a picture with us. We were assuming that they had run out of things worth photographing and we were a last resort, so we politely refused... then some Thai people followed suit. Very strange.
We arrived back in Bangkok, and were planning to try and get ourselves up to Chiang mai for a couple of days to do some elephant trekking, but realised that we would nearly be spending as much time onm a bus (probably of the mini variety) getting there and back as we would there. So instead we booked ourselves on a couple of day tours to Kanchanaburi. In ther afternoon we decided to brave a tuktuk ride to the grand palace as it seemed like the cheapest, easiest option... big mistake. Got dragged around three shops by our driver telling us that if we went in and had a look around he would get free petrol and therefore not charge us. He seemed to be getting annoyed with us as we were nt buying anything... but what would I want with a suit or oversized ring?! so in turn I got annoyed and insisted that he just take us to the grand palace... he stopped being as smiley as he had been when we first met him. And eventually we made it to the palace... not before one more trip to a shop. On the bright side we didn't have to pay so I saved myself the equivilent on 10p each.
Once again we were laughed at for having barbies with us to take photos of. We still maintain that it is a good idea.
We took our first day trip to kanchaburi and we saw the bridge over the river kwai, and take a train ride. There were some fanmtastic views on the train, but everytime I tried to photograph one a tree moved into my way. Then took a trip down the river kwai noi on a bamboo raft and then went to see a waterfall, where we were approached by a school trip of 8 or 9 year old girls asking to take a photo of us. Then we got to got and see the elephants! Probably the highlight of the day and the main reason that we booked the trip. :-)
Yesterday we went to a floating market, and later to the tiger temple, where you actually get to sit with the tigers and stroke them. It was very exciting!
During the day a japanese man tried to take our photo while we were not looking, and two russian men came and had a photo with us, we got interviewed by s school trip of young girls again, and when we went to subway for dinner - neither of us really likeing thai food!- anfd the people behind the counter took a photo of us on their phone... probably the strangest behaviour I have experienced so far.... Im going to be so disappointed when I leave here and noone wants my photo anymore... will come back here next time I need cheap shopping and an ego boost!
Had disgusting porridge for breakfast this morning.
Thailand
Bookmark this page with: