Pete's Blog 

PhanGagging for it...

Arrived in PhanGan today. Boat took ages, sea was well rough, but the weather here is good. Thong Sala is a bit quite at the moment. Police are cracking down on parties as KPG as been designated a preservation site (or something!). The usual NYE & Full-Moon Haad Rin mayhem will no doubt take place, but Samui gave me the impression of having more going on for the travelling party animal.
Might re-investigate the Open Water course between xmas and NYE if all else is quiet... we'll see.

Singapore Piccies Uploaded

Singapore Piccies here

Tao and Weather improving

Have had nice day relaxing in the sun now that the weather as sorted itself out (for how long though?) and read a few Chapters of Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux. Got a boat ticket for KPG tomorrow, so going to chill tonight and watch a movie at one of the many beachbars that show all the pirate DVDs that are available here. Master and Commander is on at 7pm.

Got my feet done today. Like the last time I had this done in Thailand my feet seem to be a source of ashtonishment and humour among Thai women. About four or five of them hundled round all looking in disbelief at my plates before calling the boss-lady who put on her glasses in a this-is-going-to-be-a-tough-job kind of manner. Reguraly during the Pete's Feet Rectification Process (time 1.5 hours) her handywork was studious discussed with her team and then the usual spontaneous laughter broke out. For 200 baht (about 3.50) I now have feet smoother than a baby's arse.

Been reading up on overlanding through Malaysia after buying a book today and found a good website about global rail travel (www.seat61.com) which I will use.

Internet shops are a pretty hit and miss afair but this one is quite good. Sony flatscreen monitor, quick connection and a front-access USB port. Some Israeli's are busily uploading pictures next to me - might come back later and do likewise.

Moving On Early...

Putting Kao Tao down as experiencing and shipping out to KPG as soon as ther weather is OK enough for us to get a boat. There have been too many -'s and few +'s here. We had one nce exprience at a Spa which was nice getting pampered by Thai girls but we had to walk home afterwards in pouring rain on roads(!?!) that we just boulder stewn mud and gravel tracks, not nice in the pitch dark and a tropical storm. We eventually were able to beg for a torch and made it back after a lot of luck and nearly an hour desperate searching in the rain (a walk that probably would have taken 15 mins in the daylight) - not nice and all due to the fact that the place we chose to stay was in the arse end of the island that taxi drivers wouldn't go to.
Anyway, we've moved on noew to someone nearer the port waiting for the sea to be calm enough for us tyo go to Koh Phangan. One lives and one learns...

Taoism

In Koh Tao today, got a kick-ass speedboat over first thing this morning - getting into backpacker territory now, western amenities are sparse and there are a few people walking around who look like they've been here a bit too long if you know what i mean...
Scuba is going to get postponed as visibility is shite so going to cut short this visit and come back in the New Year (to Koh Tao). Can take a day-trip to an island owned by Burma to get a new visa in the new year (have until Jan 13th).
Might stay a day or two then go to KPG early and be there for christmas.
Early night tonight as Mel and I went and had some excellent seafood last night (cheap as chips! ten quid for two of us inc beers) then went to a bar and got chatting and drunk with some French people who owned the bar. I kicked some serious butt on the pool table (Thais are hopeless, bless them!) although it did have a mind of its own and the balls would seemingly go in random directions occasionally.

Koh Samouzing...

Been chilling for a few days on Koh Samui and taking lots of excursions on a moped to see different bits and pieces. Drank some Thai Whiskey with some Thai people on a waterfall today. We went climbing up the waterfall itself which I thought was great fun (especially when you have long legs) but I'm not sure if Mel would agree on that one. I think the Thais must have thought we were mad trying to climb up it especially (as we later found) the was a perfectly good footpath only a few feet away! They seemed very amused and interested in us but were quite friendly and hospitable. Got some good shots of Mel in the waterfall with the new SLR.

Off in search of some fresh seafood tonight, it is still quite a quiet part of season so not all the restaurants are yet geared to having fresh fish available each evening. We go in hope...

Speedboat to Koh Tao tomorrow, early start (depart 8:30), next Blog from once I start my PADI course...

Singaporing...

Here I am on the first leg of the great adventure and all is well. Slept like a baby for the whole flight due to getting trollied on Wednesday night and have been mooching around Singapore since Friday evening.
Met some cool people (Jo, Johnny and Alex) last night at a bar by the river and ended up going with them to a big party in a penthouse apartment. Huge place massive roof garden, good DJ's and loads of free booze, wicked!!!
It's pretty comercial here, which is OK as I needed to do a bit of shopping and bought myself a nice Canon SLR and some decent leather sandals, going to go and test the camera out at the zoo after this...

Off to Koh Samui tomorrow, then Koh Tao on Friday...

Nearly Off...

Fly out to Singapore tonight. Currently at Kim & Oona's flat in Clerkenwell, London. They have been very kind in putting us up before the big off. Good night last night at Little Bay restaurant saying goodbye and drinking lots of wine...

Next blog from Singapore?...

Been a while...

Haven't used this test blog for ages...

Been busy and now its time to travel...

As so to work...

Kimberely was excellent, top fun had by all.

+'s: Atmosphere. Effort made on decorating the house, pyrotechnics, lasers. Bee's trance/techno set in the Tractor Shed. The weather.

-'s: Some poor mixing on Sunday night. No fans in the cellar (Buffalo Room was boiling). Having to help out on Saturday with a hangover.

Special thanks for Mr Wiz for doing my shift on my birthday - you are a star mate!!!