Day 60 of Ozbus11's 92 day trip to Sydney saw me do absolutely nothing apart from enjoy my surroundings on Koh Samui Thailand, my beachside hut and the first resort we'd seen on our holiday. It was the next day I decided to do something constructive. By the amazingness of foreign law I was able to hire a scooter and go round the Island with it. I was incredibly excited as the last time I had been in control of anything motorised I was having driving lessons at the age of 17. I never achieved a full drivers license though.
It was a bit nerve-wracking, getting used to the sensitivity of the throttle and the vehicle was heavier than I thought making it surprisingly hard to manouver. So I thought I'd practice a little around the hotel. Something Charlie, our 'nice' Public School boy from Chester who had hired a massive 4x4 to tour with, found hilarious. Well after a few stops and starts, I thought I was ready to go. Luckily I hadn't crashed first time like a certain younf Irish interior designer on the bus did (she will remain nameless, she knows who she is). But mastering the scooter was just one part of motorised transport I had to deal with. It was becoming part of the Island traffic that proved the greatest challenge. My first task was to successfully ease out into moving traffic from the Hotel side road onto the main ring-road. I did not do this well. Unfortunately, too much throttle and not enough turning left hurtled me onto the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic. In England I would have been hit for sure but luckily, we had noted that in countries with sligtly more irratic driving tendancies, drivers had amazing reflexes. And all I got was a couple of a beeps.
Cursing and heart racing I stuck to the left hand side of the road and headed off to my destination. I knew where I wanted to go, I just didnt know exactly how I was going to successfully arrive. Somehow I managed it and I parked down another side road where I had found previously a nice little fishing settlement with lovely restaurants and shops. I felt gorgeously independent - it was a strange and new experience. I had a nice stroll and purchased some nice things and then went off again. This time I headed off to the Golden Buddha. Though I had some more difficult manuvers; in terms of turning accross direction of traffic but again, I managed it.
The Golden Buddha was MASSIVE. And an impressive sight on a small island. It was beautiful situated high above the sea and for a few moments I felt complete calm and tranquil. But back on the bike I wanted to head off to the new Tesco Lotus as I needed some batteries for my torch. I couldn't find it however and nearing the end of the day, I somehow, found my way back to our sideroad, miraculously turned accross fast moving traffic and ended up back at the scooter hire place.
The next day we all reluctanctly (some more reluctantly than others with heavy sleeping in behaviour) left Koh Samui at 7am to catch a ferry back to the mainland. At 3.30pm we arrived at Hyati and cursed Phil for making us leave so early when there was absolutely nothing to do in the town. On day 63 we crossed the Hyati border a little after 7.30am having been reminded by the Thai tour guides to have our passports on us and arrived in Penang in Malaysia in time for an evening birthday celebration for Aussie Sam. The next day we were on the road again in time to arrive in Kuala Lumpur for lunch. What a sight that city was. If a Sci-fi film was ever real then it would have based itself in Kuala Lumpur. Silver skycrapers seemed to fly up from the groud and everything was so clean and knew and everything screamed MONEY. Suddenly the 26 Ozbusketeers in their tired travelling gear seemed a little out of place. A nice lunch was to be had in the first shopping mall we'd seen since leaving Europe and then back on the bus it was to arrive in Melaka at 5.30pm.
This was the end of Malaysia and the beginning of an arduous Indonesian leg before hitting the red country. It was exciting and deeply sad at the thought of ending this once in a lifetime trip.
Tuesday 23 February 2010
Thursday 18 February 2010
Ozbus11 - Thai Part 4, the Effects of the Moon
A full moon meant that att the hotel on Koh Samui, a few youngens on the bus were picked up and whized off to a beach to board a boat to Koh Phangan. We were given rather official looking lanyards (official for Thailand consisting of a laminated card with company name and boat times back tied with a pink piece of string) and numbers corresponding with a boat out. The ride out to the island was fun, for those at the front at least. Those at the back were more than a bit wet by the time they disembarked. But at the front, everytime the speed boat went over a wave the bow would rise and wallop down so fast that bodies were moved from seat to seat. It was hilarious and really set the mood for a party.
On arrival we paid an entrance fee for a plastic wristband stating "Fullmoon Party 2009 Haad Rin Thailand". Who knows what Haad Rin is? I thought we were on Koh Phangan. Inside the gates we were immidiately confronted with the famous bucket stalls. This is where Thai Island dwellers sell children's buckets full of various spirits. Wonder what the focus of this party is? Also on offer were luminescent accesories such as hair bands and body paint. All very fun, all so very tempting to buy but where to put such purchases? All of us girls had come out with just the bear essential money as EVERYTHING and anything gets lost/stolen on this Island. It was a perilous journey of fun we were on. But to the beach we strove!
Once there and passed a few foodie pitt-stops the music was pumping hard from various bars. We all headed to one in particular which lovely Mr Phil had said he was going to and meet some friends of his. None of us now had the will to party without him, it had been so long in such close contact! There it was, all fun, fun, fun, but crowded. Luckily I had brought Henry the blow-up Girrafe along as party mascot so we were easy to find as a group - there was a wager to see if he could get home un-punctured. The music was loud, the drinks were full on but I couldn't quite get into the swing of things. Maybe it was because the music they were playing required pills for you to enjoy but I think it was mainly down to the fact that the DJ played some god awful mixes. I thought that my soul was saved when I heard the intro to a Nirvana track - but alas it was put to a thumping 'dance' beat and I died a little inside.
Groups dispersed, re-appeared, changed in dynamics. We found Jimmy the Aussie Ocker off his face on something after his drink was spiked. Then it was time for the traditional drunk dunk in the sea. You know - when it doesnt matter that you're fully clothed and several blokes are pissing up-current of you. I didn't go in however as by this time, I was not into it at all and considering going back. My requirements for a successful all nighter had not been met - company was good but now sain conversation was hard to come by. I had a good chat with Elli but that was about it that night. The music was terrible. And then the heavens opened - that was my cue to go. So off I toddled to the make-shift docks where I found more than a gaggle of people. It was about 3am now and I thought to myself - I am gonna be here at least an hour waiting. But there, amongst the crowd, I found Aussie Sam waiting also. Yey - someone to pass the arduous time with.
Then, without too much waitng, a boat came in and by our own pushing and other people dragging us, we made it through a barage of people without lanyards (haha in your face randomers!) and successfully onto a boat back to Koh Samui. I was intensely tired at this point and just wanted to roll into bed. Though I just had to get through the ride home. I made it, just, with a few saltwater injuries to my eyes. Sam and I waited at the drop off beach a while, everyone else was getting into mini-vans and being taken to various hotels. We told the person apparently directing the vans which hotel we were at but her face looked blankly at us. Ah-well we thought, this is Ozbus after all, not an all inclusive tour, as we keep on being reminded and didnt think a van would have been booked for us. So we got a nice expensive taxi back. It wasn't until the next morning that Phil told us an official transfer had been organised for us as part of ticket out there!
Back at the hotel I had the keys to Elli's hut as I was sharing with Drew the newly proud Grandmother with a cavehouse in Spain and didn't want to wake her. I immidiately jumped in the shower in an attempt to wash all the luminescent pink paint that the Ozbusketeers had happily smothered each other with, off. My efforts at 4am though made little to no impact. But I think it was partly due to the permancy of the paint as I was still finding traces in my hair on the Australian leg. Even now as I write this, almost 3 months after the event - a pink fleck of paint can be seen on the top left corner of my watch. I don't want to see it go though - a fond reminder of a miniscule part of an awesome trip.
I slept until 10.30am when with sand still all over me I headed off for breakfast. I spent the rest of the day reading. The sea was rather rough unfortunately and remained that way for the duration of our time on the island which so no swimming was done. Gradually, throughout the later parts of the day, people emerged from the recovery processes of the night/day earlier. They informed me that sadly Henry had not fullfiled his wager but had made it back, limp and a bit worse for wear. In the evening most of us gathered for cocktails at the beachside bar just down from the hotel. But it was a quiet affair with everyone enjoying the peacful sound of the ocean - a welcome first from what had been up until then a mostly city tour of countries.
On arrival we paid an entrance fee for a plastic wristband stating "Fullmoon Party 2009 Haad Rin Thailand". Who knows what Haad Rin is? I thought we were on Koh Phangan. Inside the gates we were immidiately confronted with the famous bucket stalls. This is where Thai Island dwellers sell children's buckets full of various spirits. Wonder what the focus of this party is? Also on offer were luminescent accesories such as hair bands and body paint. All very fun, all so very tempting to buy but where to put such purchases? All of us girls had come out with just the bear essential money as EVERYTHING and anything gets lost/stolen on this Island. It was a perilous journey of fun we were on. But to the beach we strove!
Once there and passed a few foodie pitt-stops the music was pumping hard from various bars. We all headed to one in particular which lovely Mr Phil had said he was going to and meet some friends of his. None of us now had the will to party without him, it had been so long in such close contact! There it was, all fun, fun, fun, but crowded. Luckily I had brought Henry the blow-up Girrafe along as party mascot so we were easy to find as a group - there was a wager to see if he could get home un-punctured. The music was loud, the drinks were full on but I couldn't quite get into the swing of things. Maybe it was because the music they were playing required pills for you to enjoy but I think it was mainly down to the fact that the DJ played some god awful mixes. I thought that my soul was saved when I heard the intro to a Nirvana track - but alas it was put to a thumping 'dance' beat and I died a little inside.
Groups dispersed, re-appeared, changed in dynamics. We found Jimmy the Aussie Ocker off his face on something after his drink was spiked. Then it was time for the traditional drunk dunk in the sea. You know - when it doesnt matter that you're fully clothed and several blokes are pissing up-current of you. I didn't go in however as by this time, I was not into it at all and considering going back. My requirements for a successful all nighter had not been met - company was good but now sain conversation was hard to come by. I had a good chat with Elli but that was about it that night. The music was terrible. And then the heavens opened - that was my cue to go. So off I toddled to the make-shift docks where I found more than a gaggle of people. It was about 3am now and I thought to myself - I am gonna be here at least an hour waiting. But there, amongst the crowd, I found Aussie Sam waiting also. Yey - someone to pass the arduous time with.
Then, without too much waitng, a boat came in and by our own pushing and other people dragging us, we made it through a barage of people without lanyards (haha in your face randomers!) and successfully onto a boat back to Koh Samui. I was intensely tired at this point and just wanted to roll into bed. Though I just had to get through the ride home. I made it, just, with a few saltwater injuries to my eyes. Sam and I waited at the drop off beach a while, everyone else was getting into mini-vans and being taken to various hotels. We told the person apparently directing the vans which hotel we were at but her face looked blankly at us. Ah-well we thought, this is Ozbus after all, not an all inclusive tour, as we keep on being reminded and didnt think a van would have been booked for us. So we got a nice expensive taxi back. It wasn't until the next morning that Phil told us an official transfer had been organised for us as part of ticket out there!
Back at the hotel I had the keys to Elli's hut as I was sharing with Drew the newly proud Grandmother with a cavehouse in Spain and didn't want to wake her. I immidiately jumped in the shower in an attempt to wash all the luminescent pink paint that the Ozbusketeers had happily smothered each other with, off. My efforts at 4am though made little to no impact. But I think it was partly due to the permancy of the paint as I was still finding traces in my hair on the Australian leg. Even now as I write this, almost 3 months after the event - a pink fleck of paint can be seen on the top left corner of my watch. I don't want to see it go though - a fond reminder of a miniscule part of an awesome trip.
I slept until 10.30am when with sand still all over me I headed off for breakfast. I spent the rest of the day reading. The sea was rather rough unfortunately and remained that way for the duration of our time on the island which so no swimming was done. Gradually, throughout the later parts of the day, people emerged from the recovery processes of the night/day earlier. They informed me that sadly Henry had not fullfiled his wager but had made it back, limp and a bit worse for wear. In the evening most of us gathered for cocktails at the beachside bar just down from the hotel. But it was a quiet affair with everyone enjoying the peacful sound of the ocean - a welcome first from what had been up until then a mostly city tour of countries.
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