After deciding that Thailand wasn't a country I was particularly interested in, I am now realising why so many people come here! The past 3 weeks have been unbelievable!
10/04/10
After saying goodbye to dad and David (and a great round-trip of Cambodia), we left Bangkok and the Red Shirt demonstrations behind, and left for Koh Tao on the southern east coast. Had our first and only nightmare journey on a bus that which was oversold, leaving us barely with seats to sit in. A 4am break-down was also part of the experience! Spent the evening with 3 Swedes who, without realising that I could understand every single word they were saying, spent the early part of the evening slagging us off! Chanced upon them later the next day though, when I casually asked: Hei, hvordan gar det?/ Hey how are you?- much to their surprise! Tji-hi!
In Koh Tao we had a brilliant time learning how to open water scuba dive. with Halvard, our Norwegian instructor! Swimming around at 18 metres below with an oxygen tank on your back, watching moray eels, trigger fish, black-tip sharks and other beautifully coloured tropical fish and corals passing you by was truly incredible!!!
We stayed in a beautiful bungalow with our own kitchen!!! Finally got to prepare our own breakfasts- milk (!), bread, salami and cheese...mmmm!!! Spent our days basking in the sun at a beach with the most stunning clear, turquoise water, and the evenings playing cards on the balcony, drinking wine, watching the red, orange, pink and purple sunsets! Enjoying life to the max!!!
24/04/10
However the Thai experience didn't seem complete without a swim with a turtle, so on Halvard's advice we set off for the Similan Islands on the west coast in search of those beautiful creatures. Once there we managed to sneak in a day of snorkelling on the last day of the season, where we visited 3 of the 8 Similan Islands off the coast. And there it was- on the first snorkel-the most beautiful of sights- a huge Green Turtle came swimming effortlessly and elegantly towards us! A dream of many years was fulfilled!!!! It swam with us for about 10 minutes- it came so close we could have touched it! Chris even had a nose to nose experience! I can't describe it- we felt truly blessed that day! The highlight of this year-long trip for me!
It is really quiet here in Khao Lak where we are staying, with the high season truly over. We've decided to stay on a little longer to enjoy the sights in peace and quiet, free of tourists! Have enjoyed the afternoon showers, thunder and lightning immensely after 6 months of scorching heat and sunshine. Yesterday we hired a motorbike and went off on a little explore when we chanced upon the most beautiful waterfall! Had it all to ourselves for about an hour, showered in it and swam in the little pool below! Today we headed off in the opposite direction and came across an even bigger one- 60 metres high! We're absolutely gob-smacked at experiencing all of this! Tomorrow we have an elephant trek booked in the national park, followed by a trip to the hot springs! Yay!!! Needless to say we are not in a rush to head back to Bangkok and the trouble happening there!
After Thailand, it is definitely time to start the long journey back home! We've decided to skip Nepal, unfortunately, because of time and money. We'll be popping into Laos for a week or so before heading back into China, travelling a different route back to Beijing where we'll be catching up with Lasse whom we met on the Trans-Mongolian on the way down and who still lives there. We're really excited about getting back on the Trans-Siberian again, by-passing Mongolia this time, non-stop to Moscow! More card-playing, hours of looking out the window at the world passing by, and of course, the occasional vodka accompanied by some caviar. Yammie!!! Hope to make it to St.Petersburg after Moscow and then- straka vegen hem gjennom Europa (all the way home back through Europe!)
That's all for now! Lots of love to you all back home! Thinking of you and missing you!
Silje (and Chris)
Two very happy people, minutes after that beautiful turtle experience!
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