Koh Samui

Day 73

New Years Day

After a late night yesterday we took it really easy today.  We took a short trip down to the beach,near the cool bar. where we relaxed in the sun.  I decided that I wanted to make sandcastle, which took a surprising amount of time.  Claire sculpted the turtle.

On the way back we checked out a local fish market.

In the evening we met up with Steve the Irish guy we had met last night and watched the footie, no alcohol for me though. 

Angthong

Day 72

New Years Eve

Another boat  trip today, this time to Anthong Marine Park.  We decided to take a spaeedboat tour,slightly more expensive but it meant we would get more time exploring.  Let me tell you this boat could really move.  At one point it started to rain and the spray was that bad the driver put on a crash helmet. It looked quite comical and worrying at th same time.

First stop was a place used in ' The Beach' film.  Here we got a chance to explore and do a bit of kayaking.

Then onto a fishermans village, where we had food provided .  It was  not that great to be honest.

The next Island we talk a short climb/walk to a viewing platform where we could get a good panoramic picture of the area.  This was followed by a hour of snorkinling and swimming.

In the evening we headed to a local restaurant, where we befriended a Irish couple.  This was the start of a big drinking session for myself.

At about 11 we headed to the beach  for the midnight fireworks. They were some of the best fireworks I have ever seen, especially as we were so close to them.  All in all a great new years eve.

Koh Samui

Day 71

This is the beach where we are based

With a nice day in prospect we thought it could be a good idea  to head down to the Cool Bar. This is essentially a little shack on the front of the beach.  There is very little else around it, well one hotel a stroll down the beach.  It serves, cheap drinks, good food , peaceful and has free WiFi.  What else could you ask for.

The Cool Bar and surrounding area

Cool Bars Beach

After a long day out, it is always good to chill out.

Koh Samui

Day 70

We decided to take a full tour of the island as the weather was cloudy. There is no point sitting on a beach if there is no sun.  Although a lot of other guests disagree with my train of thought as they were happily lead there.

Despite going all the way round, I did not take that many pictures.   The first place we stopped was Nathon, the capital of Koh Samui. Will be heading back here on New Years Eve to catch a speedboat to the Anthong National Marine Park. We had some food here and it was much cheaper than the tourist resorts such as Chaweng and Lamai.

Nathon

Next stop was Bang Por, this was right at the top of the island.

On the way back round we stopped in Chaweng.  I visited here 7/8 years ago for the first time and it was a busy little town.  Well it has changed   a lot, there are streets and streets of bars, fast food restaurants, shopping centres etc. In fact getting into Cheweng there was a traffic jam of about 3 miles (there were no traffic jams 7 years ago).  To me the place has been ruined, too many buildings etc etc.  God knows what the place will be like in 5 or 10 years time.  

Koh Samui

Day 69

The day started out absolutely scorching hot,  After  breakfast we hit the beach to try and top up the tan.  We decided at lunch time to head back to the room, have a quick shower nd head out. However just before we were about to leave  it started to rain, very very heavily.  There was no way we were going anywhere in that.

Lami Beach, a bit scruffy looking

A couple of hours later after the rain had cleared we walked into Lamai,  We found a street market selling cheap food and beer as well as a ton of clothes etc.  Of course Claire bought something.

I also managed to watch the footy Spurs v United, 0-0 typical!!

Koh Samui

Day 68

A short 45 minute flight to Koh Samui was the main activity for today.  However, catching public transport, a 35 minute delay in the airport all added up.  In the end we spent most of the day faffing around, waiting etc and we eventually reached our resort, The Thong Takian Beach Resort.  Only to find we had been double booked.  They had however got us accommodation in the resort right next door.

All in all a very uneventful day.

Bangkok

Day 67

Boxing Day

There was no hangover today, so we were up and out pretty early.  We thought we would get a metre taxi.  However no taxi driver would use the metre and the prices they were charging was extortionate.  So we decided to negotiate with a tuc tuc driver instead to take us to Sampeng Lane.

The lane is very narrow, with hundreds of market stalls on either side.  It goes on for about 1km and it gets packed full of people. You sill get a few mopeds driving down here as well.

We then moved onto Khao San Road, this is a small street in bankok where all the backpackers stay.  I had never been here before, so I wanted to check it out.  I must admit I was a little disappointed,  I am not quite sure what I was expecting though.  It was just a little street with some market stalls, western takeaways and a couple of bars. 

  In the evening we went to terminal 21 for some food.  On the 5th floor they have a street food section and it is so so cheap and the food is excellent.  We got two drinks,two main meals and a dessert each for under £3.50, bargain.

Terminal 21 Christmas tree. 

Bangkok

Day 66

Christmas Day

I woke up feeling really rough!! Wish I had not drank so much.  Claire was not feeling too sympathetic and I was forced up to breakfast at 930.  I managed to eat a bit of toast and that was all I could manage.

This is the huge shopping centre attached to our hotel.

Shopping was next on the agenda and I persuaded Claire to get a motorbike taxi.  She was a bit unsure however she absolutely loved it.  Weaving in and out of traffic and going the wrong way up a road.




We checked out Pantip Plaza which is 5 floors of electronic goods, we saw some cool quad helicopters, I think we will end up getting one.

Foe Christmas day lunch we had a bit of street food, two main meals and two drinks cost £3.80, and it was delicious.

How did we live without a selfie stick!

I also download a picture of us two on the Gonadal at queenstown, I had been meaning to do it for ages,  I thought I would put it up as its a good shot.

That is no edit green screen shot, it is the real thing.

Bangkok

Day 66 

Christmas Eve

The hotel is linked to the MBK centre which is one of the best shopping centres I have ever been in, so there was no surprises in what Claire  wanted to do today.  We only bought a couple of t-shirts, nothing to exciting.  The main point of going in the centre was to price up a suitcase/bag for the way home.  We will probably buy quite a few things while we are, we saw a good soft case for £12.

In the afternoon we went to the pool and did about a hours worth of sunbathing and a quick dip in the surprisingly cold pool.

In the evening we met up with the Scots for some fish and chips at a place called Snapper.

We then got a tuctuc ride to Patpong,  where some serious drinking began.

I was lead on the floor of the tuctuc, it was good fun. 

This was a 3 litre chang beer tower. This stuff is 6% and was definitely responsible for my hangover!

Bangokok

Day 65

It was only a one hour flight to Bangkok, but we seamed to spend ages in the airports at either side.  The only highlight was me getting through passport control with Claire's passport!!!  We look so alike haha.

We got to the Pathumwan Princess Hotel at about 21;20.  This place is proper 5 star luxury, a true honeymoon hotel.  However we had no time to relax in the huge room, as we went straight out to the cinema.  We were meeting our friends Graham and Lisa, who we met in Fiji and New Zealand.  We watched the latest hobbit movie,  The 5 Army's.  It was okay not as good as the previous 2.

Ho Chi Minh City

Day 64

On this we have yet to go up a huge tower/building and take some shots of the city we are in.  Today however we decided that we would knock that off our to do list.  The main place to do that here is Siagon Skydeck, situated on the 51st floor of the Bitexeco Tower. It cost £6 each so it was not too pricey.

We also took the opportunity to test out our new gadget, 'The Selfie Stick'. This is essentially a extendible pole that your phone attaches to, and they are linked together via Bluetooth. At the bottom of the pole there is a button and when you press it takes the photo for you.  They were designed so you can get a good shot of yourselves without asking anyone to take it for you.

Claire Modelling the selfie stick!

A selfie stick shot

On the way back from the tower we came across Ho Chi Minhs version of muscle beach, so we could not resist and have a go.

Me trying to work off  all the beer I have drank on this trip. There is long way to go!

Ho Chi Minh City

Day 63

It was another blast of the tourist spots. I can safely say that Ho Chi Minh has a lot more to offer than Hoi An, plus the weather here is hot hot hot.

Fist on the agenda The Independence Palace

This place was invaded by North Vietnam at the end of the war, and there are replica tanks and fighters left in the grounds.

No Palace is complete without its own cinema.

Every King needs a helipad.

Then we walked not to Notre Dame Cathedral

Then to the Central Post Office,  This place is suppose to be structurally very beautifully, however it was under construction. 

 Then round to the opera house.