To Beautiful Thailand...

Welcome to Thailand.

I hope you enjoy the next few postings of Thailand as much as I enjoyed experiencing them. OK...maybe that's not possible, but I hope you like the postings anyway.

Even though I started my Thailand experience in Bangkok, I figured the pictures of Koh Lanta island may have more impact on you when you still have memories of lots of snow. Bangkok will follow later.

So how did I prepare myself for travel to this foreign land with a culture very different to my own...easy! I found a hot Swiss girl in NZ who was travelling to Thailand at the same time as I was and I just followed her. I wouldn't recommend this approach for everyone, but it worked for me...at least for my first week.

You're the best Miranda!



A friend of Miranda's...Livio...flew in from Switzerland so the three of us set sail for paradise. And paradise it was. All the pictures you are seeing were taken by me on Koh Lanta island...but using Miranda's camera. I think you'll agree the results aren't too shabby.





Unfortunately, our bungalows weren't right on the beach...we are backpackers you know. Alas... we were forced to walk about 30-60 seconds before we hit the water. And although all these pictures were taken at night...I can tell you that the water was dazzling blue in colour. I shouldn't bore you with my hardships...but it is my blog...so here goes...I almost found the water too warm to be refreshing. I thought about asking for a refund. I guess you get what you pay for...it did cost $22 a night!! Good thing breakfast was included.

Our days usually consisted of breakfast at the beach restaurant followed by swimming and laying on the beach for a couple of hours and then relaxing in a covered hut as we sipped refreshments and ate some excellent Thai food for the remainder of the afternoon with the odd swim thrown in for good measure. I did say this was paradise.

Now this is one of my favourite pictures...not only because I took it, but because of the location it was taken from. This vantage point was basically what we gazed upon as we enjoyed our massages. I am now a big fan of Thai massages and would recommend them to anyone. Just be ready for elbows, knees, feet and very strong hands pulling and tugging at you in every direction.

If that picture doesn't do it for you...let me paint a mental picture for you as I believe everyone deserves a little paradise. @#$%$#% My paradise just went to hell as I just deleted a pretty cool picture. Sorry about that. Ok...enough about me...back to you...

Picture yourself laying down on a soft mattress slightly elevated off the sand of a beautiful beach. There are very few people around so you feel you have the beach to yourself. The warm evening breaze is gently moving the seashell windchime above your head like percussion to the beat of the waves as they lap up onto the shoreline. As you rest your chin on the pillow all your eyes can behold are the multitude of brillant colours of a sunset beyond imagination. Warm towels are then placed on your legs and back so that you don't catch a chill as strong hands begin their hour long dance on your completely relaxed body. Get the picture??

If that sounds good...go for the oil massage...the Thai massage has a little more pain involved!

Can I send that paragraph to my grade 10/11 English teacher? Ms Santaloupo (spelling?) wouldn't believe I wrote it. Sorry dudes...I'll try to trash up my next posting.

But all good things must come to an end...Miranda had to head back to Switzerland; Livio went on to meet with another friend...and I was in Bangkok by myself.

It was the first time in more than a month I found myself alone. The question is...would I survive? It's OK Tim...the question was rhetorical as I'm writing this posting...so I must be alive.

Next... a little about Bangkok...which is a far different place from Koh Lanta. I hope you enjoyed a little paradise. I sure did!!