Thailand - change for good and bad

I cannot quite believe I am sat on a little terrace in front of my rattan stilted bungalow looking out on a twinkiling sea on Koh Chang, whilst blogging on wifi !! How much has changed!

I have been pondering this since arriving; mostly the change in me - from the skinny, brown, intrepid backpacker I was then, haggling over 10baht (20p), staying in the most basic huts we could find and hanging out with interesting types from all over the world.  I miss that girl, especially her considerably smaller bum, but I suppose I must embrace the fact that I am older, wiser, and perhaps less bothered about 20p!

Anyway to what we've been up to...

Arrived with Ronan having a small panic about the protests in Bangkok being between us and our hostal - our bus from airport stopped about 2km from destination due to roadblocks. We ended up lugging our very heavy rucksacks through the centre of the protests and found nothing but smiley faces helping us with directions and a wealth of impromtu stalls selling yummy things, t-shirts etc. 'Like notting hill carnival without the agro' was Ronan's comment and it did feel festival like, glad to see it still remains peaceful and that they are not giving up. (although we would like to be able to leave too!)

One 6 hr bus later then a boat and we arrive on Koh Chang, moutain and rainforest covered island, 2nd biggest in Thainland. Since then, mostly lounging, sunsets, fab food, kayaking and starting to take the edge of our reflective english winter skin. Done a bit of flashpacking in somewhere totally lovely but full of people about 20 years older and so now have downgraded to a more basic place. That's all for now....

Funniest moment so far (by Ronan)
Katie tries to step into the back of a pick up with massive backpacks on front and back...falls flat on her back (pack) and is reduced to waiving her limbs to call for assistance. After estabishing she wasn't hurt this became hugely entertaining for all, especially the driver who kept remarking (oh, you 100 kilo bag girl !). The contrast couldnt have been stronger compared to the huge tanned Italian guy getting on behind her, his muscle bound brozed body was totally dwarfed his tiny little wheely case. All that remains of this wonderful moment is a purple bruise on her left butt cheek....photos censored i'm afraid.

Just arrived in Bangkok, dazed but straight on the street food

 

 Ronan having some serious hammock time

Just the one cheesy sunset shot

Slacklining on our own little deserted beach

  

Classic farang action on Koh Chang, Chang beer in the sea

The day of reckoning

Eek! I am leaving the house for the airport in a mere hour and starting to feel a bit dicky in the tummy before I have even sampled the dodgy 10baht pad thai!

Slightly inauspicious beginnings for us as we head to Bangkok during the midst of a giant anti government protest, fingers crossed all will be well but we are getting out to to Koh Chang as quickly as we can manage.


Thanks to everyone who came to one or more of my myriad of leaving dos and for the lovely cards presents and other treats, really I should be getting you them as I am the one swanning off to have fun for a year.

We are starting the flash packing in earnest and have booked into a 'boutique' hostel in Thailand with free wifi in the rooms so my first foreign post will probably be tomorrow morning gmt from our room as I look out over the cheesy Khao san road.

See you on the other side x

The leaving do cometh

Job one now I'm unemployed, have a huge party to celebrate! Also a good reason to put off the packing for a bit longer.

We went for a vaguely latin theme due to our final destination though it did end up being a bit more central than south america. We managed to feed the 5000 mole, chilli and mojitos as well as creating our own pinatas (well i say we but i didn't have a lot to do with it).

Thanks to all those who came and made such a good turn out and to the final few for clearing out when i told them to leave at 5am!

A tactical piece of cake and cup of tea at 3am seemed to save me from a hangover and event the clearing up wasn't too painful. It seems like this party was too perfect. I'm still waiting to discover the sick lurking under a pillow :)



















The frenzied preparation


A rather dramatic goodbye


Pinata craziness


So packed they were in the hall!



Some excellent costumes were worn


The morning after

Last day

Well today is my last day at SSAT and and I have a mild feeling of panic about what is next and also about how many things need to do between now and 5pm (well maybe more like 5.45).

Thanks for having a look at my little blog charting the travels of myself and the boy (aka Ronan). I hope to keep people back at home in touch with what I'm up to, maybe entertain and create something I can look back on when I am old and falling apart.

But before I do that there is a mad week of meals, parties oh and packing up my house to do. Hmm I think the mild feeling of panic just turned into all out hysteria.......