Pete's Blog 

Penang

Arrived here two days ago and have been mooching around waiting for my upset stomach to sort itself out. Its very hot and humid here but I'm feeling better today after having a crappy day yesterday. Have been sourcing replacement chargers etc for my camera and phone to replace the ones that got knicked - not that easy. I have been able to find ones that 'alledgedly' work but the reality is sadly lacking. Went to a nice super-air-con cinema and watched a film called 'Paycheck' last night which was quite good. Plan to go to the Botanical Gardens later today after we sort out the KL and a new ad-hoc Langkawi leg - possibly leave tomorrow.

Good Day

I currently bored out of my mind near Surat Thani railway station catching the 01:30 sleeper train to Butterworth (for Penang) Malaysia. Only another 4 hours to go!!! Then we have a 12 hour journey in a sleeper carriage which will, by all accounts, make British Rail transport look like Britain is the 3rd world country! i.e. Trains here are actually quite nice!. May come back into Thailand for a week (If Malaysia turns out to be as crap as most people I've spoken to say it is) but have to leave now as visa has run out.

On the plus side we yesterday did what I would consider to be the best dive I have done yet at the Similian Islands. Deepest so far - 27m!!, saw a really cool wreck, turtles, tonnes of fish but still looking for my first shark. Went out last night and ate a huge lobster and got drunk listening to a funny Thai rock n roll cover band.

Looking forward to a change of scenary now and a different environment for a few days, new frontiers await...

Bad Day

Realised at lunchtime today that the SLR along with Mel's Minidisc player have gone walkies from our room. Popped out last night for five minutes and came back and found the door ajar. Cursed myself thinking I had left it open, but then realised the chances of me doing that are very slim. The locks are so easy to pick and we are close to the road, ideal for a thief. Spent an unpleasant half hour in a Police station getting a form (in Thai of course!) for insurance purposes, fortunately with the help of a translator from the resort. Was shitting myself that the senior police office who interviewed us would look at the visa stamp which runs out today. On the plus side we are Scuba Diving tomorrow at the Similan Islands which is a chance to get at least one good memory from this place. I feel like I am now going to go through a period of over-vigilance, this is the classic 'Traveller's Dilemma' - Do you leave your stuff in your room and chance it gets knicked by thieves breaking in? Do you carry your stuff with you and risk losing it or getting mugged?, or do you pay for a safety deposit box (if you can find one) and put your trust in some hotel/resort/hostel manager? All the options have risk. What would you do?

Khao sLak

Arrived in Khao Lak yesterday via an overnight in Samui (and an average night-out in Chaweng - truely the armpit of the island, I pity the poor fools who actually stay there, its like Phuket without the kitsch). It seems a differentr world here from Koh Tao and PhanGan, we are back in touristville people - fat Germans in speedos with even fatter wives in G-strings - please!!!!!!
But its not all bad its actually quite a nice place. We have a good room, its not too much more expensive and we have found a good bar that has live music. The main motiviation, of course, is our dive on the Similian islands that will probably happend on Wednesday. Have checked out one place that looks good and will check out another after this. Being a more touristy spot there is seafood everywhere which is a great plus. Probably going to order a lobster in advance for after the dive on Wednesday - nice. Tonight will just have to gorge myself on King Prawns instead - hard life eh?

Booked the Train from Surat Thani to Butterworth. Leave 01:30 Friday am, so will leave Khao Lak Thrusday evening. Arrive Butterworth midday on Friday.

Farewell KPG...

Just waiting by Thong Sala port to catch the 2pm Seatran to Samui after having a massage and some nice chicken noodle soup. Had a great curry at an Indian restaurant in Haad Rin last night and bumped into Justin from the Full Moon Party. Glad to get his EMail as I made a right hash of trying to put it into my phone on Wednesday morning.
Weather has been a bit patchy for the last couple of days. Hoping it will be scorchio over on the West coast tomorrow.

Full Moon Marathon

Mel and I broke all prevous endurance records at the Fulll Moon Party on Tuesday night and only got home at 7:30pm the following day. I am absolutely shattered but we had a great time and met loads of cool people. Ended up at The Backyard club which was an outdoor terrace club that went on all day. Going to chill for a couple of days then go back to Samui for 1 night before flying to Phuket and catching a bus to Khao Lak.

Thailand Photos

Thailand Photos

PADI New Year and all that!

Well, its been a very busy week since my last blog. After a couple of days chilling out over christmas Mel and I decided to fit in the PADI Open Water Course between xmas and NY and I am pleased to say we have passed with flying colours (well kind of). A few days laying off the beers did us good and made sure we were well up for NYE mayhem at Haad Rin. Had a absolutely top night (even better than last year) - met loads of nutters from all over the world and stayed the distance until about 11:30am. The sun came out and shone in the morning and Haad Rin (East) actually showed us what a beautiful beach it can be (despite the throbbing psy-trance that is probably still going now!).
Had a chilled day yesterday to recover from the sleep deprivation and Mel went snorkelling near Koh Ma in the North West of KPG. In the evening I ran the gauntlet by taking the bike to Haad Rin on the notorious Haad Rin entry road - never again! - my knuckles are still white from the experience and my underwear was nearly a mess - that has to be the worst/most dangerous/steepest road in the world.

Happy New Year To All...

Having-It Rin

Well, its Boxing Day today and have had a few days celebrating chrimble Thai style. That is, a big night out in Haad Rin with the usual bucket/shake/chang combinations and some cool hours spent at the Mellow Mountain bar overlooking the bay. Had a bit of a dance at the Vinyl club and got back around 4:30-5ish in the morning. Mel and I had a throughly top night with Steve and Gareth and Francesca. (Photos to follow)
Yesterday started slowly with a bit of a hangover bit lunch in town followed by a couple of bottles of wine of the beach whilst watching the christmas sunset followed by a roast chicken dinner in Thong Sala made for a nice christmas away from England. A drink later at the Spunky Monkey bar just down the beach from us (with Chris from Blackburn) proved fruitful and some Thai weed was procured that finally nailed my coffin shut for the night...

Today has also been a chilled one. Went round the the west side of the island and went to the infamous Bounty Bungalows from last years KPG experience. Saw Naan there from last year who recognised us and came over and had a chat and gave us a free drink which was nice. We are even featured in the pictures on the wall along with all the other faces from last year. Might go and stay at the Seascene next door again as there will hopefully be a more chilled English crowd there. Our place is starting to fill up with Israeli's, which is not a bad thing per se (the love of my life is one after all!), its just they are usually a bit aloof and keep themeselves to themselves. Might move round the day after tomorrow to the west side. It also feels like to will be quieter in the evening, were we are now, you can hear a few sound-systems in hte distance and there are a lot of stray dogs barking which is annoying when you want to get your head down for a good kip.

Going to go watch the sunset and then veg in front of the TV for today's Boxing Day Premiership Football line-up...

Life's a beach...

Had a few beers in our bungalow resorts cool little bar last night and met some of the poeple staying here. Went for some cheap seafood and beers down the road (660 baht for four of us!!!) and have spent most of today on the beach or in the bar watching footy (hard life!).

BBQ on the beach tonight, then planning on going off on the bike to do some exploring tomorrow before going out on the lash for Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas to all...