Friday, 16 May 2008

Half Moon Party

Half Moon Party
A combination of alcohol induced memory loss and selective memory loss
means this blog won't be too long...

Wow.

...that's all.


Brad

Koh Panang

Koh Panang
So we're here! The highlight of our Southern Thailand adventure. And
after less than a week it's lived up to all of my expectations.
On our first night here we decided to upgrade our room from the
cheapest bungalow to the most expensive. A whopping £5 a night extra
gets us air conditioning, a flushing toilet (that's right, the other
room didn't have one), a hot shower, satellite television and plug
sockets. Not a bad deal at all.
After unloading our packs we decided to head to Had Drin, party
central, to see what we had in store. A town made up of bars and only
bars saw us top up our depleting alcohol levels and decide that it
would be a good idea to ask a stranger if we could hitch-hike in the
back of his pickup truck. A great decision on my part, as the guy
lived opposite our hotel and we were back home in no time.
The next day we took a wonder up and down our street to find 'Harvey's
Bar', a brand new bar Dan had found, owned by a Scotish chap. This
time we really have found the greatest bar in the world.
This place is so new that the pool table had never been used, we order
food from a menu that hasn't even been written and after one nights
drinking, that sees us dust off a box and a half of Heineken, we're
now the barmans best friends.
So far, we've helped write the food menu; suggested, collected and
installed a Playststion 2 from the owners house into the bar and when
Harvey needs to pop out for a bit, we run the bar, serving drinks and
choosing what music to play. In exchange we often get the keys to the
pool table, I got to update my iPod from his HUGE music collection and
when we're the last customers he closes up, turns off the music and we
watch Family Guy until it's time to sleep or until it's time for
breakfast. It's like being back home in a mates house, who's
girlfriend cooks the food and you have a few beers whilst playing the
Playststion.
Half Moon tomorrow...


Brad

Thursday, 1 May 2008

Paradise Found

When I said perfect beaches, clear waters and easy living I thought it was wishful thinking. But that's exactly what we've got. Koh Samui is paradise. White sand and crystl water beaches with so few people on them it's incredible. The sea is warm and refreshing and the weather is fantastic. 35 degrees on average.
I live in a bungalow that looks out onto the sea. We have plug sockets and room service! Water costs 15p a bottle and a bottle of Heineken is about a pound.
The food is excellent, usually a toasted sanwich, burger and fries or a salad wrap.
This really is living the dream. I was up at 5:30am yesterday and went for a jog along the beach, sea splashing against my ankles as i ran. That Everest trek really paid off. Half an hour running in 30degree heat was only halted by my body's need for water, oh and the fast that 3 (rabid looking) dogs gave chase to me. However the resort owner reassured me that I'd be safe to continue "jus' thro' stone" she advised me. I decided against pelting dogs with pebbles and went for a shower.
Tomorrow we're going to rent some mopeds and book ourselves a game of golf at the local course. Because apparently I can ride a moped and play golf? I love Thailand.
Infact I'm quite the expert on the old Suzuki moped. Just 2 days ago I overtook an American guy, who was acting ultra cool, on a Harley Davidson...
We've got 7 more days of lounging around on the Koh Samui beaches until we leave for Koh Pang Nang, the paradise island with beach parties every night. Alcohol is bought by the BUCKET not bottle or glass and the government tourist adviser showed us a great photograph of a sign outside the Half Moon Party that read:
No Drink
No Drugs
No Weapons
from outside...

I think I'll be going to the SevenEleven to stock up on Paracetamol tomorrow.
Just had my 1st beer, hmm I wonder where this is heading?