Christmas in Buddhist Thailand
Hi All!
Greetings from Ko Tao in southern gulf area of Thailand. Am on a small island that is well known for its clear waters and wonderful diving. BUT, just happened that we are here during the end of the monsoon season and have unusually big waves and crappy vis for dining. Pretty windy too and only some sun. Lots of partying 20ish scantily clad kids here and it is just not my scene, so will be leaving tomorrow to explore some more pristine areas of Thailand to the south near Trang and some marine parks near there.
Arrived in Thailand on the 12th I think and spent a few days in Ayutthaya recouping from jet lag. Headed south via night train for about 7 hours to a port city of Chumpron. We spent the day there, renting motorcycles and exloring the beach and towns nearby. Was VERY windy there- even though it is a wind/kitesurfing area, no one was out. We then caught the ferry to this small island. Alex wanted to get certified SCUBA diving so we could be buddies, so he is doing that in between days of bad weather.
I have been just hanging out, wandering the streets withthe exception of one day that i rented a motorcycle and went exploring. WOW- beautiful island, but only small parts are accessible as it is very hilly and the roads are steep, rutted and gravel=very dangerous! So, found a nice beach and chatted with an English kid escaping his homeland's dreary winter. Nice kid and fun to hear of his adventures and future travels. Did a long snorkel swim-was nice to be in the water, but not such interesting snorkeling. While slowing to park near a beach trail head, the front brake stuck and the cycle slid out and fell over. No damage at all to cycle, just that it pulled my right hamstring muscle at the back of my knee and bruised my legs, and i have been hobbling around and icing for a few days. Went to the clinic for an ace wrap and watched as a fellow motorcyclist got his leg stitched and burns cleaned from a gravel road slide out. I took the cycle back and decided to walk or take a taxi truck from now on.
Doesn't look as though the visibility will clear for at least a week, so will head off the island, I think tomorrow to southern areas. Will probably be traveling on Christmas day, but it wont feel any different than any other day since i will be in Buddhist and Moslem country. I wish for all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and I will be in touch as soon as I have news.
Oh, have a cell phone and incoming calls are free for me, so would love to hear from you. To call me, go to some asian or oriental market and get a $5 phone card. Ask for the TCC 24/7 brand as you should have like 200 or more minutes on it. Then dial the 800 access number, put in pin from card and dial the long distance code which is 011 I think, then 66 (country code for Thailand) then my number 9 802 6976. So, 011 66 98026976.
Also, you can send me an email from the comment bar at the bottom of this blog. Please remember to sign your name as it comes into my email as anonymous.
Take care!!
Thanks for following my travels!
Monica
posted by Monica @ 9:37 AM
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