After what turned out to be a 20 hour coach bus/broken bus/ferry/taxi/walk we made it to our bungalow in kho samui. It is a beautiful island, sandy beaches, breathtaking scenery, and surrounded by a refereshing ocean. We might stay down south for a while. Made a new friend on the ferry, alex. He is very helpful to have around for he knows a lot about traveling and is much better at bartering than we will ever be. Tomorrow we will do some exploring around town but definitely save some time to lounge around on the beach. Gonna go relax with a beer on the beach. Living the dream
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
A Little Tidbit
About to embark on our adventures!
Tuk-Tuk (our mode of transportation)
At the Wat Pho Temple
Emily in the temple of love
(Sorry couldn't turn the pictures, have borrowed a very friendly swedish guys computer. So nothing is in english! But at least you have a little peak at what we've been up to.)
Friday, January 27, 2012
Day 2: Part Two
Things we've learned so far in Bangkok:
1. Market vendors food is best! You can at least SEE beforehand what it is you're ordering!
2. Tuk-tuks are super cheap but don't eat before (you may lose your meal)
3. Thai people are very friendly but don't take their advise! They will usually lead you to the wrong place
4. Don't stick to main streets. You never know what you find when you turn the next corner. (We found the most amazing Vegetarian spot hidden in an ally within an ally!)
5. It's a good idea to check out the best bars in town (in this case the world) but check the dress code before you trek all the way across town!
6. Invest in earplugs. These people can party!
7. These people really love their Budhas! A little bit obesseively. They are EVERYWHERE! (Even life sized statue monks...which are very realistic)
8. This is not a city where people get up early. (Probably because they party til 6 in the morning)
9. I can't tell the difference between a lady and a lady-boy!
10. Bring toilet paper with you everywhere!
1. Market vendors food is best! You can at least SEE beforehand what it is you're ordering!
2. Tuk-tuks are super cheap but don't eat before (you may lose your meal)
3. Thai people are very friendly but don't take their advise! They will usually lead you to the wrong place
4. Don't stick to main streets. You never know what you find when you turn the next corner. (We found the most amazing Vegetarian spot hidden in an ally within an ally!)
5. It's a good idea to check out the best bars in town (in this case the world) but check the dress code before you trek all the way across town!
6. Invest in earplugs. These people can party!
7. These people really love their Budhas! A little bit obesseively. They are EVERYWHERE! (Even life sized statue monks...which are very realistic)
8. This is not a city where people get up early. (Probably because they party til 6 in the morning)
9. I can't tell the difference between a lady and a lady-boy!
10. Bring toilet paper with you everywhere!
Day 2: Part One
You haven't lived until you have had a Thai massage! It's nothing like I've ever experienced. My travel book described it as "yoga being done to you". And there really is no better way to describe it! They twist, pull and push your whole body in all sorts of directions. Leaving you feeling strangely relaxed! Definitely worth the incredibly long hot sweaty trek we had getting to the Wat Pho temple where these massages were! (I apologize to our masseuses who had to put up with our grossness...it's. Very difficult to stay cool AND obey the temple dresscode)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Day 1
Emily and I have arrived in Bangkok, Thailand!:) yay! Now the hard part...how do we get from the hotel (which is not downtown) to our hostel (which is downtown)
Step one: find public transit
We ask our front desk to direct us to the bus or skytrain
"Oooohh noooo you can't do that...too hard...you must take taxi! 600B! I call for you" (imagine an asian accent)
So we refuse! We are here for the real thailand experience...we will find it ourselves!
And we did! (Had a little problem on the way TO the skytrain but that was only a minor misunderstanding.) So we took the skytrain as far as we could!
Step two: walk to the hostel
So the map is very misleading...first of all the roads are missing and most of the signs are written in symbols! Secondly it doesn't LOOK that far away. The people here are great! So friendly! Every person is very eager to help us-get to THEIR friends hotel-which is not what we want! But they are just so happy you can't help but smile:) and walk away very slowly. So we continue along a road and hope for the best!:)
After 2 hours, 2 sore shoulders, 2 blistered feet and 2 very sweaty tired girls we finally made it to the hostel! Despite all the persistent negativity from the locals telling us we'll never make it!:) AND it only cost us 70B! Not bad! (Pat on the back)
Step three: check into hostel
You would think that is easy...but its not! First we couldn't remember where we put the confirmation, and then after much digging and unpacking we found it! Only to realize we booked it for tomorrow night and not tonight! Ahhhh! Thankfully they had a room for us tonight so we don't have to sleep on the streets:)
Take away message from this experience: don't take the easy way out! Its much more of an adventure the hard way! (But maybe check the dates beforehand)
Step one: find public transit
We ask our front desk to direct us to the bus or skytrain
"Oooohh noooo you can't do that...too hard...you must take taxi! 600B! I call for you" (imagine an asian accent)
So we refuse! We are here for the real thailand experience...we will find it ourselves!
And we did! (Had a little problem on the way TO the skytrain but that was only a minor misunderstanding.) So we took the skytrain as far as we could!
Step two: walk to the hostel
So the map is very misleading...first of all the roads are missing and most of the signs are written in symbols! Secondly it doesn't LOOK that far away. The people here are great! So friendly! Every person is very eager to help us-get to THEIR friends hotel-which is not what we want! But they are just so happy you can't help but smile:) and walk away very slowly. So we continue along a road and hope for the best!:)
After 2 hours, 2 sore shoulders, 2 blistered feet and 2 very sweaty tired girls we finally made it to the hostel! Despite all the persistent negativity from the locals telling us we'll never make it!:) AND it only cost us 70B! Not bad! (Pat on the back)
Step three: check into hostel
You would think that is easy...but its not! First we couldn't remember where we put the confirmation, and then after much digging and unpacking we found it! Only to realize we booked it for tomorrow night and not tonight! Ahhhh! Thankfully they had a room for us tonight so we don't have to sleep on the streets:)
Take away message from this experience: don't take the easy way out! Its much more of an adventure the hard way! (But maybe check the dates beforehand)
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
And so it begins...
"The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination" -Don Williams Jr
Life is an adventure...dare it!
Goodbye South Africa...until we meet again...
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