Hello again...
I realized that I may have given the impression that Thailand sucks. Although I must admit that there was a day that I was really sad and disappointed, I don't think it sucks at all. In fact, I think I found paradise. It's called Ko ( i.e. island) Phi Phi. It's south of Phuket island on the Indian Ocean side. It so great because it has no cars! How can a place with no cars not be paradise?
This is the place I imagined when I thought of Thailand. No annoying tuk-tuk drivers, no scams, no girlie bars, no drunk tourists. It's just beautiful beaches, GREAT food and great Thai people. We've been resting for the first time since I came here. We are staying at a bungalow (I'll send you a picture next time). It's like a little house in the middle of the jungle. The "town" (with it's only 100 residents) is just a collection of restaurants, curious shops and scuba diving establishments. The only way to get here is by speed boat or by ferry, and if you want to go to the neighboring islands (which are amazing), you take a taxi-boat.
I forgot to mention that our last day in Bangkok was awesome. We went to the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. I attached a picture (oh, and if I looked annoyed it's because you have to wear pants - because of the temple - and it was VERY hot and sunny that day).
I even enjoyed Phuket Island (we stayed in Patong Bay). As you might recall, I told you guys that it was full of drunken tourists and girlie bars, annoying tailors and tourist agents. However, once you get past that, it's actually a very beautiful place. We took a bus (the kind the locals take) to the provincial capital (Phuket Town) and people were normal there. It was a city founded last century used to trade with the British, Portuguese, Chinese and Malays, so you can see a weird collection of architecture. I'll send pictures next time. However, other than looking at old buildings and temples, there was nothing there. In fact, and I hate to say it because my intention was to do a cultural trip, once you see 10 temples, you've seen them all. Yes, it probably sounds kind of ignorant, but there are just so many Buddhist temples one can see.
Anyway, just writing to say we were OK. There's a bit of a monsoon going on but we went to the local 7 / 11 (yes, there are HUNDREDS of 7-11's in Thailand), bought a bunch of junk food (including an "American Corn Snack" and "Mexican BBQ Style" chips - there is no such thing - which aren't half-bad), ate at a little restaurant and are planning on going back to the room. Tomorrow, if the weather permits, we are taking a little tour around the island. You leave at 9 am and they take you to 3 or 4 beaches to snorkel, then they take you to Monkey Bay (a beach that has a bunch of baboons that walk out and get your food - but I don't trust them... baboons seem kind of mean to me), then snorkeling again and then back (the pool would seem like a good idea at that point).
OK. Hope all are you are well. I'll keep you informed of our trip. If I can carry them, I'll take a few bags of American Potato Snack; I think you might enjoy them.
I realized that I may have given the impression that Thailand sucks. Although I must admit that there was a day that I was really sad and disappointed, I don't think it sucks at all. In fact, I think I found paradise. It's called Ko ( i.e. island) Phi Phi. It's south of Phuket island on the Indian Ocean side. It so great because it has no cars! How can a place with no cars not be paradise?
This is the place I imagined when I thought of Thailand. No annoying tuk-tuk drivers, no scams, no girlie bars, no drunk tourists. It's just beautiful beaches, GREAT food and great Thai people. We've been resting for the first time since I came here. We are staying at a bungalow (I'll send you a picture next time). It's like a little house in the middle of the jungle. The "town" (with it's only 100 residents) is just a collection of restaurants, curious shops and scuba diving establishments. The only way to get here is by speed boat or by ferry, and if you want to go to the neighboring islands (which are amazing), you take a taxi-boat.
I forgot to mention that our last day in Bangkok was awesome. We went to the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. I attached a picture (oh, and if I looked annoyed it's because you have to wear pants - because of the temple - and it was VERY hot and sunny that day).
I even enjoyed Phuket Island (we stayed in Patong Bay). As you might recall, I told you guys that it was full of drunken tourists and girlie bars, annoying tailors and tourist agents. However, once you get past that, it's actually a very beautiful place. We took a bus (the kind the locals take) to the provincial capital (Phuket Town) and people were normal there. It was a city founded last century used to trade with the British, Portuguese, Chinese and Malays, so you can see a weird collection of architecture. I'll send pictures next time. However, other than looking at old buildings and temples, there was nothing there. In fact, and I hate to say it because my intention was to do a cultural trip, once you see 10 temples, you've seen them all. Yes, it probably sounds kind of ignorant, but there are just so many Buddhist temples one can see.
Anyway, just writing to say we were OK. There's a bit of a monsoon going on but we went to the local 7 / 11 (yes, there are HUNDREDS of 7-11's in Thailand), bought a bunch of junk food (including an "American Corn Snack" and "Mexican BBQ Style" chips - there is no such thing - which aren't half-bad), ate at a little restaurant and are planning on going back to the room. Tomorrow, if the weather permits, we are taking a little tour around the island. You leave at 9 am and they take you to 3 or 4 beaches to snorkel, then they take you to Monkey Bay (a beach that has a bunch of baboons that walk out and get your food - but I don't trust them... baboons seem kind of mean to me), then snorkeling again and then back (the pool would seem like a good idea at that point).
OK. Hope all are you are well. I'll keep you informed of our trip. If I can carry them, I'll take a few bags of American Potato Snack; I think you might enjoy them.
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