Aimee’s World Tour

New Year’s Eve, Koh Samui, Thailand.

Melissa was up early this morning.  Her friend Gen (short for Genevieve) from NJ needed to be picked up from the airport.  I had decided not to add the island on my flight itinerary because it was an extra $300 I chose not to spend~ thus all the ferries and trains.  I lingered in bed a little longer after my night “sleeping” on the sand.  Eventually Mike and I kind of putzed around the bungalow.  Sitting outside on the front “porch”, we met people from all over.  I struck up a conversation with this man and his 2 year old son who were originally from CA (I think…) and currently live in China – maybe Shang Hi?  I also spoke to this British couple who were probably approaching their 50s.  I found myself to be the striker on this trip – the person who starts the convo and then kind of drifts.  So I guess I was also the drifter…  DUDE…

Mike and I had finally starting making our way back to the main road to get some eats when Melissa and Gen rolled up in a taxi van.  Because that’s the way they roll.  Get it?  Eh hem.  Melissa asked us to go swimming with them but Mike and I were on a mission for food.  We ended up going to a restaurant we had eaten at the day before.  Still good it turns out. 

When we got back I didn’t go into the ocean right away.  When I finally decided to everyone was done and ready to shower so Melissa insisted on coming with me.  A storm was brewing and I love when the water starts to get a little rough.  It was calm as could be until that point.  Melissa was getting nervous but I kept distracting her with stupid questions like what is your favorite song? haha.  We managed to get out before the rain hit.

And did it hit us!  Just as we were leaving the bungalow for the ferry to Koh Pha…  Mike wrapped his guitar in trash bags and the cab driver came with a giant umbrella for the rest of us.  Kind of like that commercial for traveler’s insurance with the big red umbrella that carries people everywhere.  Ok not really – the umbrella wasn’t THAT red. haha. 

The handle on my suitcase was broken on top so everyone that ever tried to help me with my bag had to fumble around.  (Actually I’m not sure which day it broke as I am now writing this in retrospect…bad Aimee.)  The streets were really filling up with rain but luckily the ferry was still on course.  I took notice of travelers from all walks of life.  (That should have been the name of my blog: All Walks of Life.)

Melissa was feeling a little sea sick again and quite honestly it was hard for me to keep my balance without hanging on to a pole or Melissa!  I did manage to get to the front of the boat to take some scenic shots.  Unfortunately it was foggy a majority of the time so that my pictures aren’t as clear as i would have liked.  On the other hand, the drizzling didn’t really put much of a damper on my trip.  Ok well I guess I had to drag my suitcase through mud and sand but… I broke that sucker in! 

Land-ho!  Once we set foot on Koh Pha-nang we got ourselves some tasty Thai food and I did a little video-age.  Planning to take the boat the next night, I went to a travel agent to make it official.  

Enter my own personal little black rain cloud and Winnie the POO.  Well guess what?  There was no night boat so my plans had to be altered and I must admit I was somewhat cranky about it.  I’m not sure why… it wasn’t THAT big of a deal.  Anyhoo I now had to leave the next day on the 12:30 pm ferry in order to make the night train on time which would then bring me to Bangkok… yada yada.   The sunshiny moment – all of us got to leave our bags safely with the travel agent so we didn’t have to drag them around. 

We did a little shopping, chilled on the beach a bit and then, for my sake, we went to a nearby bar with COMFY COUCHES where I believe I managed to nap.  

As for Winnie the POO, none of the food had been sitting well with me and I was ready to just stay on that couch for the rest of the night.  Screw New Year’s.  Ah, but I couldn’t just do that.  I was in Thailand, not home on my couch watching downloaded movies.  So I finally pooped and I was back.  That food had been weighing me down all day and it was finally gone!! 

As a group we decided to stay on the beach where about 20-30,000 New Year’s enthusiasts would be ringing it in.  I didn’t really drink too much that night but we danced like crazy just the same. 

 

Around 9:30 pm we Tuktuked it to a tiny tiny island called Koh Ma.  Actually we had to walk across an incredibly long sandbar to get to there.  I was leaving sleigh marks in the sand with my suitcase. ha ha. 

I don’t know that there were really any other people on the island other than the small contingency at Mike’s friend’s bar.  So really, the island was quite peaceful.  Well until Jen sprained her ankle on the stupid stairs (which I must say were a bit of a hazard).  Even the countdown was “chill”.  It was fast approaching midnight but the music wasn’t pausing for a countdown.  There were these guys from Brazil jamming and watching them were some Brazillian models.  I think they were traveling together.  Everyone’s like they’re so hot. And I’m like why do I want to hang out with a bunch of gorgeous chicks when I know I better drop ten ASAP?  But whatever. haha.  Well back to the countdown.  

Quite worried I asked if there was to be a countdown.  One person’s watch seemed to indicate New Year’s had passed.  Another guy said we had two minutes.  I’m thinking what is this? haha.  So we started on own countdown at approx. midnight which was the end of celebrating as far as I was concerned. 

The plan had been to stay wtih this hippie couple that Mike knew only we didn’t have a way of getting there.  Eventually I mentioned to Melissa and Mike that I thought Gen should go somewhere more comfortable for her ankle.  They had been hoping to maybe just crash outside by the bon fire (this island was gorgeous mind you) but it was drizzling.  I had utilized my physical therapy skills to elevate and ice Gen’s ankle and kept reminding her that it was crucial to take it easy for a of couple days.  I’m curious to see if it turns out ok after her trip is over on the 11th.  I’ll be a little sad for her to go back home.   Finally we set off across the sandbar and back to Koh Pha-nang where we amazingly tracked down a taxi-van to the hippie couple’s house.  The girl actually reminded me of you Kelly… her looks (though a bit taller and had dreads) and even her glasses plus she was so sweet just like you!  (Kelly is one of my best friends from college~a helpful tid-bit for my loyal readers.)

The place was situated in a quiet jungly area and while I could have slept on the floor inside I chose instead to sleep on the bench of a picnic table hut right outside.  Another night of bumpy sleep but worth it as the scenery was paradise to wake up to.  Actually I woke up to a dog licking my face.  Haha.  But that’s another blog: New Year’s Day 2009. 

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