Thailand - Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, & Phuket

     Koh Samui's airport was probably something similar to landing in Hawaii in the 1940's. The runway was incredibly short, had only one stretch of asphalt used for landings, takeoffs, and taxing, and had one baggage terminal with a thatched roof. It was really quite liberating to be somewhere that was so unadulterated from commercialism (or so we thought, we later came back only to find that most of the island was completely commercialized.) However, time was of the essence (no, not that essence) and we had to high tail it to our ferry which took us to another island, Koh Tao.
     Koh Tao is where Erica and I agreed to try something we both had never done but always had wanted to: scuba dive. We signed up for our Open Water course and, loving it and our instructors so much, we continued on to the Advanced Open Water certification. We had such an amazing time! We dove to depths of over 95 feet, completed a night dive in utter darkness (we saw photo plankton light the night waters up like fireflies), and viewed fish so big they looked like they could swallow you whole.
     Our dive instructors were Kiwi (he's from... yep....you guessed it....New Zealand) , Allie from England, and Julia from Russia. I was in stitches the entire time with these guys and have never had so much fun and learned so much. The instructors had this unique, but highly effective system of helping you to remember important techniques and knowledge; if you named a piece of equipment incorrectly or were possibly about to do something wrong, then they would give you a beer fine. Put your mask on your head (international sign for diver in distress): beer fine. Call your mask goggles: beer fine. Forget to clean your equipment: beer fine. Call Kiwi an Aussie: beer fine. Needless to say it began to add up but it definitely kept you motivated to stay on track and brought the day to a nice relaxing close with a few rounds of drinks at the bar, even if it was on my tab.
     From Koh Tao we island hopped yet again to Koh Phangnan. It felt a little strange at first to lay by the pool as we had been diving every day straight for a week. However, we got adjusted quickly and were soon sipping ice cold Long Islands that soothed the mind and soul. We in fact liked it so much we continued to do that the two days we were there. We also had met two really nice couples from England that were a blast to talk with. They even had really interesting tattoo's! (inside joke).
     From Koh Phangnan we went back to where we had landed, Koh Samui. We had a great time here riding our motorbike around the island searching for unique restaurants and secluded beaches. We had a great meal not far from our hotel where Erica and I ate to our heart's content, with alcoholic beverages mind you, for a grand total of $6.40. It is amazing how cheap you can eat in this country. If $3.20 a person is splurging and you find that too expensive, take comfort in the fact that one can eat for as little as $0.60 (including water to wash down the fiery cauldron of never ending chilies). I know what you must be thinking: the food probably is bearable at best, right? WRONG! This was some of the best food we've had yet and it was served hot, fresh, and always with a smile. It's no wonder why so many people from different areas of the world choose this country to retire.
      Our last stop was to Phuket to see our old stomping grounds. We had lived here 4 years ago and we were interested in getting back to some familiarity. The travel from Koh Samui to Phuket was an absolute nightmare. Our boat was late getting to the dock, then the bus was late picking us up from the arriving dock, then a connecting bus we were suppose to catch left because we were late forcing us to wait for yet another bus. Once on the next bus it was low on gas forcing us into the nearest gas station. Turns out that the gas station we chose had no gas and was awaiting a refill truck. To make matters worse, the bus company's policy wouldn't allow us to stay on the bus while at the gas station obligating we sit outside. Once we ended the bus ride we had to hail a cab from the bus station wherein the taxi cab driver got lost trying to find our hotel. All in all, what was suppose to only be a 5 hour trip took more than 14!!!! If you are ever wanting to improve your skill of patience, I would suggest having a go at any third world's transportation network where most things always go awry and the more connections you have the worse it can get.
     It was great getting to see Phuket again. We rented a motorbike and cruised all around the island to our favorite restaurants, beaches, and bars and I even had three custom suits made for less than the price of one in the States. Riding the motorbike, we're used to seeing otherwise shocking things like the use of no helmets or 5 people on one bike (the family sedan?). However, this incident took the cake. About to overtake a motorbike, I mentioned to Erica how crazy it was that the woman up ahead was holding a saw for wood cutting in her right hand while her husband was driving. As we passed Erica mentioned to me how much stranger it was that the woman also had a 4 month old baby in her left hand! She was only holding on with her legs to a motorbike going approx 50 mph clutching a newborn in one arm and a knobby toothed saw in the other! Where is Gloria Allred when you need her?
      We had a great and relaxing time in Phuket and saw many things throughout Thailand. Having finished at our last destination of this beautiful country, it was time to pack it up once again and move North to our next country: China: land of the Great Wall, panda bears, and very slippery noodles.

The reason why we chose Koh Tao! Beautiful!

Packed fishing boat - reminds me of the trucks in Southern California headed for Tijuana, Mexico

Random Dive Boat

Getting ready for school

First day in the water

Kiwi, the world's best dive instructor!

 Erica swimming out a 'window' of the 18m Chimney shoot

Erica on her night dive

BBQ food that Allie showed us where we cook ourselves - soooooo good!

Our dive group

Worst bathroom on Koh Tao

Best sandwich on Koh Tao - each sandwich made fresh right in front of you

Family Sedan, complete with babyseat

Purposely took a bad pic of Kiwi and made it even worse - enjoy Kiwi!

Advanced Dive Group with Kiwi, Julia, Tom, Allie, Brandon, Erica, & Gaylord

Julia, Kiwi, Erica, Brandon, Tom, Allie, & Gaylord

Erica practicing for the WNBA

Sail Rock Dive Point

Shark Bay

Sunset Hill

6 Senses Resort Restaurant - Such an insane and romantic place to eat

 Self Portrait

 "I get 30 miles to the gallon on this hog" - Dumb & Dumber

 Hard boiled eggs and chicken feet, yummy!

 Such a tasty pizza! We've been anticipating coming to this Italian restaurant in Phuket for over 3 years since we were last here!

 Reading a book on the beach

 When the tide recedes everyday, it leaves these odd sand formations

Most unhappy looking Thai I've seen

Low tide exposes the Long Tail boats and the sands of Rawaii beach

Prometh Cape Panorama



Thailand - Chiang Mai & Bangkok

     Private waiting lounge, unlimited drinks, spacious leg room, and restaurant style service in-flight; our first 1st class plane travel was a welcomed surprise!!!! Our flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and back was upgraded for free due to the smooth talking skills of my ever-so-clever wife! (Yes, that rhymes) She has been asking at every flight if there was ever an opening and this time she struck gold. It was Erica and I's first time flying this way and it was so nice!
     We landed in Chiang Mai and went straight to another free upgrade; the Chiang Mai Four Seasons Resort for two nights. The staff wait on you hand and foot from the moment you get there until the moment you leave. This type of service doesn't come cheap, around $450-500 a night. Fortunately for us, Mr Terry Ryken of Santa Barbara was kind enough to give us such a special gift. We are so appreciative of your generosity and Terry, if you ever read this, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!! At the resort they have their own private rice paddies, two gigantic water buffalo (which Erica and I just had to ride) to plow said rice paddy, and several lush, tropical foliage enclosing you in a soothing bubble of serenity.
     After leaving heaven, ahem, I mean the Four Seasons Resort, we headed for downtown Chiang Mai to a very humble B&B more along our budget. During one of our days there we went to the Tiger Kingdom to play with real live Bengal tigers. It was so much fun! It isn't like an American zoo where you have to stay behind glass or a cage. Here you can get right in and even lay on the tigers, compare paw sizes to your own hand, and even see up close how much damage those teeth really could do. There are tigers that range from 3 weeks old, one year, and fully grown. We felt like "Life of Pi".
     That evening we set out to experience the night markets. These markets are chock full of shopping and scrumptious food. On our way passing through a quite unsavory area, something moved from underneath a nearby food stand that caught our attention. When we poked our heads in to investigate, an animal shrieked and made a mad dash straight for us; a light quickly illuminated the biggest and ugliest rat we've ever seen. The beast was seemingly, at first, the size equivalent of The Princess Bride's ROUS's. (we later estimated it to be the size of a medium house cat) Frightened and caught off guard, a girlish squeak erupted from my lungs. I quickly placed Erica between myself and the ensuing Chernobyl-sized rodent before it darted once again underneath another food stand. So much for being Erica's knight in shining armor.
     From Chiang Mai we took a return flight to Bangkok. This city took the cake on overcrowding, air pollution, and most people trying to swindle you in a two minute period. Don't get me wrong, it was fun too. Erica had to take oxygen and a breathing apparatus with her everywhere she went due to the insane amounts of shopping. Bangkok is home to the world's largest and most diverse outdoor market. You can purchase groceries, clothes, food, and yes, even pet squirrels that come on leashes. There is no limit to what the Thai people will sell here just to make a buck, excuse me, Baht. Sometimes makes you think and wonder what's really in that food...
     After getting her shopping fix, I convinced Erica we should head to the floating markets two hours outside of Bangkok. This particular market was made famous for its intricate canals and waterways where the Thai people could easily trade and purchase food and clothing on the weekends. Great place for pictures but not easy on the nose: the 'essence' of Thailand was strong as the sun cooked the river water comprised mostly of human and animal water waste. Craziest thing was I saw a man washing his dishes from breakfast in the very same water: needless to say we didn't stop to eat nearby.
     Our last day in Bangkok we tried to make a meeting at the local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses only to find, once again, that no one was there (happened in Chiang Mai too). We did, however, find two really nice girls from Scandinavia in the same boat as Erica and I: all dressed up with nowhere to go. After having got along so well at a quick lunch we decided to go out as well that evening. We ended up getting some cocktails at a posh hotel in downtown where you can dine or drink on the roof, 84 floors above the ground. It offered an unobtrusive view (by that I mean safety glass only reached 3.5 feet where most lawyers would have a field day) which took in every 360 degree of sparkle, illuminating the night's sky. We had a great time that night getting to know one another and we were so glad to have made new friends with the same faith from another part of the world that only 24 hours before we had never known.
     Having started to get our footing in Thailand and gaining some mastery over the current conversion rates of the Thai Baht to the US dollar, we felt good about moving on to our next destination in this beautiful country: the island of Koh Tao.

Checking in at the Four Seasons

These intricate flower arrangements were everywhere in the hotel and each one unique

 

Our Four Season's Bedroom that came complete with our own private sun and observation deck

Most important staff member: the drink man

Erica enjoying a coconut filled Mai Tai

Pano of the lower pool deck at Four Seasons

Pano of the rice paddies at Four Seasons

 So many names have Porn somewhere in it; the best was Seeporn

 Conquering the mighty water buffalo in style

 Erica looking beautiful as always

 Trying to make meeting; unbeknownst to us it was cancelled

International symbol for male bathroom

 Such a great time visiting these huge cats

 Yawning

 The camera can't really capture the colors of this remarkable animal

 Erica getting awfully brave

 Erica's best friend

Hard day's work

Best Pita Wrap from our favorite Turkish man

Tuk-Tuk Limo 

Bangkok Floating Market Pic 1

Bangkok Floating Market Pic 2

Bangkok Floating Market Pic 3

Bangkok Floating Market Pic 4

Bangkok Floating Market Pic 5 (freshly washed dishes, yuk!)

Bangkok Floating Market Pic 6

Bangkok Floating Market Pic 7

Time lapse of the Floating Market

Bangkok Floating Market Pic 8, Britney Spears ain't got nothing on me

Bangkok Floating Market Pic 9 (40lbs of snake stretched out across 15 feet, Erica's pretty buff!)

Meeting attempt #2, the saying of continually trying something hoping for a different outcome is beginning to enter our minds, at least we met two really nice Scandinavian friends

Top of the World in Bangkok

Lady's night!

Pano of Bangkok 840 feet high