Travel Story «Last day in Banghok/ Journey to Khao Sumai»

Thailand | 0 Comments 05 March 2006 - Last Update 05 March 2006

Hey all Lorna here, well as aisling mentioned day 4 in Banghok was a major write off we did manage to head out for food a long lunch followed by some shopping then some more rest. we headed out for food in the evening have to say loving the thai food even with a starbucks, mcdonalds and burger king on every corner. On saturday we were alot more active and myself, gra and emily headed off to see the standing budda. Aisling was a little "buddaed out" after last day of sightseeing. have to say the map my map reading is a little rusty but improving all the time and we eventually found it. it was fab really big and gold. it did feel like we were intruding on what seemed like the thai version of a novena but anyway. we then headed down to the river were we found lovely little bar (as if that was ever a problem for us) and got served by a fab looking lady boy. we then purchased ourseves a 1 hour boat ride down river and around canal. When we got to pier to get the boat the only one there i have to say made a curragh look like a yacht! to our relief another boat arrived which was larger in size yet have to say i was still a little nervous. the trip was fab though great way to see some of the architecture and buildings. we went down canal which made the dublin canal look very clean yet people were still swiming in it. we stopped along the way to feed cat fish bread they were huge got to see them up close was cool though. would think twice about eating them again. we made our way back to Khaon san road to meet up with aisling who had been chilling out in Khoan san area for the day checking out cosmetic surgery prices and shopping as you do. we then went on to collect our laundry and luggage from hotel and make our way to get bus to Kao Smuai. We left Banghok  at 6.30pm on a double decker bus with weak to say the least air conditioning, reclining seats and about anouther 20 backpackers for an 11 hour journey. this has been one of our major experiences since arriving. Started off hot but got to see film into teh blue which was followed by the main feature komdoo verus cobra! ya we had missed it in the cinema too (god it was terrible). we stopped at about 12am in a thai roadside diner very different to our ones for 40mins. had first experience with hole in ground toilets. our driver was then seen getting on to bus with 5 cans of beer! but it was okay we had switched drivers and our new driver found it hard to manage gears so stayed in third most of the way. we switched back drivers soon after which a french gentleman went up and asked him to go faster have to say i was not happy with this as i am younger than this bus! Anyway we tired our best to sleep, Gra and Aisling found this rather difficult so chattted most of the second half of the journey. They could be heard over mine and emily's mp3 players so we tired to disassociate oursleves with them!. At about 5.45 am we arrived in well i can't really describe it but there was a hut no lights on the the bus disapppeared. shortly after the owner of the establishment arrived and opened up shop. we discovered we had to wait here to get connection mini bus to the boat. after about hour and half our chariot arrived. This was what is actually called sawngthaew open truck with a suicidal driver bit scary to say the least. we arrived at pier and had to wait a futher hour to get boat to island of Khao Sumai. this part of the journey was really smooth sailing after two and half hours arrived on island. Blue Skies, heat, sun and greeny blue water. our taxi from pier brought us to Hat Chaweng to find a place to stay. we found a palce at silver sands little more expensive than banghok but we have our own bungalow or beach hut which is nice and right on the beach. Emily an Gra headed straight for beach while aisling and i had a little rest. later meetin up on beach, which is lovely, sand sun and sea. water was a little choppy but nice breeze. we are just after dinner and plan to go and check out what the guide book calls the strip!
will update again soon
Lorna