Sunday 16th Feb - leaving Kao Tao

Sunday 16th Feb - leaving Kao Tao

Slept well and deeply inbetween the regular disturbances of loud and / or drunk travellers chatting or shouting outside my window! Lottie knocked for me at 10.30am and I got up, showered and packed feeling a lot better than last night. Before we left I saw and said goodbye to Atticus (my diving buddy) and Gee (my instructor) which I was glad about. We got a 'taxi' to the pier which wasn't very far at all and I would have been happy to have walked to save the 1 english pound each (! but very expensive for here) but not gonna be petty about it. Wandered around the port and posted my PADI paperwork off to Australia. Bought a pair of fake billabong shorts. Did a bit of sunbathing on the beach while the girls used my notebook in the harbour front cafe which had intermittant wireless. I managed to start downloading photos to my blog which is cool but didnt have enought time to actually do it after downloading the necessary software. I could do with sorting them out first anyway as the girls have some photos that I might like to use from their cameras.

I am struck by how long it takes to travel a short distance when islands and boats are in the equation. Public transport here is predictably slow and late! Our Lompraya boat (the more expensive option) was 'broken' so we were transfered to the songserm which makes me feel a bit sea sick and is about 3 quid more expensive and quicker than the boat. But of course in Thai fashion we were not offered any compensation you just have to let these things go. Shame though as it did look a lot nicer and I remember reading in the lonely planet or travelfish or somewhere that it was worth going on at least once for the experience.

The boat took quite a long time but it was nice because I sat outside in the sun and read my new book - a trashy 'diary of a married call girl' which the girls have all got through. We had just under two hours to spare at the train station after we made the connection on an overcrowded and shoddy but fun long jeep / bus / tram like shuttle (people were literally hanging off the back but they dont think to offer the two free seats in the front next to the driver!) Health and safety in this country is not the best! At the train station for example we had to step round permanent holes in the ground containing pipes or what not.

Anyway. On the bus we were all in good spirits and I think people must have thought basically we were a bit annoying and mad as we were talking about such silly nonsensical subjects as would you rather be a vampire or a werewolf...? (Inspired of course by the novel we have all read / are reading.) but you can imagine the impression given to strangers being unaware of the context....!

We found a street cafe and I ordered a spicy pork meal with rice with a 'little' bit of spice (accompanied by a very clear gesture.) Ok so I nearly died when I took my first mouthful it was so hot. Bless her, Lauren who had ordered a chicken meal offered to swap with me and I was sooo glad even though it defies human logic how anyone can actually eat that without suffering from asphixia. The milk i ordered wasnt what I expected either but a sweet, condensed milk that took a bit of getting used to. Lauren got fed up with her chang beer so we swapped.

I sat with the bags at the station until our (late) train arrived. The train already had proper beds made up with sheets. pillow and a curtain to draw and is generally pretty cool (actually literally, the girls booked air con which is like my worst nightmare so as I type I am sitting here with my fleece, pg bottoms, socks, and with my mums old coat to hand which she insisted I bring with my cold to dump somewhere, but which I have hung onto for occassions such as these!!

I did a lot of reading on the boat, and there basically are places I want to visit on the way up to Chang Mai that dont seem to be on the girls itinary but I think I would regret not going to while Im in the vicinity so it may be that we split up for a bit or I cut short my time in Ayuthaya to get a bit of a head start knowing they will overtake me. Basically I want to visit Lompuri (even if only for a couple of hours as its famous for monkeys and I love monkeys! - there are also places to store bags at the station and within walking distance of all attractions.) Also Sukhothai which lonely planet has as a hightlight of the country based on only 2 weeks in Thailand so seems a pretty pivitol place to visit. The only problem with this though is as I want to do more than them, even in Chang Mai, so in reality I don't know how easy or likely it will be to 'catch them up' - and I think that would be a shame as we have a laugh all together and it is far more enjoyabale, safer and cheaper to be with them. So have to see about that one. Something will have to give. I'm sure it'll work out somehow. Where there's a will theres a way!

Money spent: 16 baht bagel, 5 baht banana, 50 baht taxi, 150 baht pair of shorts, 50 baht chicken and rice, & condensed milk drink street cafe by train station, 14 baht large bottle water, 10 baht two pastry type things for breakfast tomorrow. TOTAL 295 baht, nearly 6 quid.

Most funny thing: I had a mad moment on the boat and started dancing to some music not realising one of the Thai male staff was standing literally right behind me. He offered me a 100 baht tip in jest. The girls who found it hilarious are now embellishing the story to such a degree I sound like a professional lap dancer or something. And are threatening to put as such on facebook...!

Worst thing: Not going on the Lomprayer express boat but having paid for it.
Best thing: Er, still managing to sit in the sun a lot on an otherwise wasted 'travel' day. Also actually having an overnight train (ie bed) rather than horrible bus.