Wow. What a crazy few days. The first two nights in Koh Samui were basically hanging out on the "strip", staying at a cheap motel and sitting around relaxing and drinking coffee. The weather has basically sucked, but it's all good. After meeting up with Chris, Lisa, and a girl named Petra who was on Chris' yoga teacher training program, we spent two days gearing up for our trek to Koh Phagnon. Both nights, there was a party in our motel hall, so there was not much sleeping going on. You know you are getting old when you go out in the hall at 0600 and plead with them to go in their rooms already. On day two we started our yoga with a session at Bikram. Yoga is NOT cheap in Thailand, it costs about the same for a session as it does in Canada. 15 bucks.
We ate Indian and then Thai food, taking in the sights and sounds of the crowded marketplace. Check out these two types of chips available special to Thailand:
mmmm sushi and crab.....
Let me just say that as you walk along the street, your senses are filled with billboards of transvestite shows, american restaurants, an ATM on every corner, and the strong smell of garbage every 20 feet or so. So strong in fact, that waves of nausea were hard to avoid. It gets dark here around 6 or 7, and the beach lights up to attract tourists to drink and eat.
We ate Indian and then Thai food, taking in the sights and sounds of the crowded marketplace. Check out these two types of chips available special to Thailand:
mmmm sushi and crab.....Let me just say that as you walk along the street, your senses are filled with billboards of transvestite shows, american restaurants, an ATM on every corner, and the strong smell of garbage every 20 feet or so. So strong in fact, that waves of nausea were hard to avoid. It gets dark here around 6 or 7, and the beach lights up to attract tourists to drink and eat.
The morning we left for Koh Phagnon, there was quite the little rainstorm. As you can see here, the wait for the ferry was pretty ominus:
Of course, right by the ferry dock there was a big box of Gravol for sale. I considered it but in the end i was already drowsy enough already after being awake for days and days. We donned our beautiful rain gear and braved the choppy waters:
The ride to Koh Phagnon was reminiscent of the tropical storm on Jurassic park where all hell broke loose, but we were instead going towards it instead of in the other direction. I was sure the boat was going to capsize at least once. Bonus: no motion sickness. We get to the island and Chris is haggling so hard for the one taxi monopoly to the other side of the island that the driver basically told Chris to suck it when he refused to pay the equivalent of 4 bucks to drive over 30 minutes to our beach. I'm reminded of my childhood in Tiajuana where I just told my dad to pay the full price already...I just hid in the background and hoped we didnt end up hitchiking for what I was sure would be double the price of the lone taxi on the island. After a suck attack, hurt feelings and an apology, we climbed into the taxi and were off.
Upon arriving at Haad Salad beach, we disembarked and walked around until we found the beach. We merely went up to a random villa and asked the price for a bungalow for 10 days. I stood way back and let Chris cut us a deal for 10 bucks a night in a room with running water, a fridge, A/C, and a hammock outside. YES!!! 10 days for a hundred bucks. Life is good.
So here we are, living the life just about 50 feet from the beach. We head up to the yoga sanctuary, only to discover that it is deep in the jungle, up an ENORMOUS mountain, which basically leaves you dripping with sweat upon getting to the top, leaving you wondering if you have enough strength to do the actual yoga in the first place. We did it though. Talk about amazing yoga. Here is the view from the yoga platform:
So after a heavy session where the teacher assumed we were advanced and ooed and awwed at our mad skills, we headed down the mountain and had some dinner at an italian restaurant where we proceeded to devour some amazing vegetarian pizzas and fresh mango shakes. yum. I got some mosquito bites, some doozies. I figured I should start my malaria meds and popped one before bed. Talk about nightmares. I was full of anxiety all day today....everyone i talked to here said they have never heard of anyone getting it on these islands...but Cambodia approaches and that freaks me out. I'm so torn. Today consisted of more yoga, sitting on the beach and drinking cappucino, laying in the hammock reading "the alchemist"and somehow getting the yoga sanctuary owners to offer me a job teaching yoga tomorrow after noon at 4. I am basically so nervous i could choke. If i wasn't full of anxiety before, I certainly am until 4pm tomorrow. What have I gotten myself in to?
Last, but not least....I got locked into my bathroom tonight after an lengthy deposit, which forthwith brought all companions into my room trying to open the door, sliding my starbucks card through to me to try to open it from the inside, which was fruitless. In comes the hotel staff, trying key after key to release me from my smelly prison, only to bust open the door and release the toxins into the adjoining room. Five minutes later: the hotel staff actually brings me some toilet paper so I can stock up. Or maybe they are sympathizing with my increased need for it. Who knows. All I know? This stuff only happens to me. xoxo
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