We got off the sleeper train at 5am. It was only 30 minutes late based on the expected arrival time. Every time there is a chance for our trains to be late so we can get more sleep and don't have to get off at 4 or 5am, it never happens. But, I guess at this point I'm used to it.
We got off the train in suratthani and immediately a million Thai people are in your face with signs that have transportation prices to all the islands listed and trying to see if you need a taxi. A lady came up and asked us how many people were in our group and Erin told her we already had a person, but then Brett started talking to that same lady a few minutes later so that was pretty funny. We followed the lady to a little breakfast place. I couldn't eat anything. It was so early and I wasn't hungry. I used the toilet though. It was an Asian toilet. People freak out over them and never want to use them. I think it's silly. Pop a squat and piss!
We grabbed our bags and took them to the vans that were transporting us to the ferry. Brett came over to help me with mine because I was still trying to text mom and dad about the bank situation. He went to pick up my bag and I tried to tell him it was heavy but he already had picked it up by that point. He let out an "oh my god! How can such a little girl carry such a big bag!" It was pretty funny.
We drove in a van which took us to the ferry. When we got there, we got out of the van and put our bags on our backs and walked onto the ferry. The ferry wasn't glorious. But, this was really the first place I talked to Jillianne a lot. I found out about her life and we realized we had a lot in common. It was also the first place I really got to know Katie as well. I think we were on the ferry for an hour at least. It was beautiful with the Thai islands poking up from the water. Blue skies. Lovely.
When we arrived on Koh Phangan we had to wait about half an hour or so for the tsung taos to get us and take us across the island. Luckily, we were staying on the more secluded part of the island which sounded amazing- and it was. The other part of the island is where all the full moon parties happen. Fortunately or unfortunately, we weren't there during full moon. But based on the signs at the hostel it sounded crazy. They drop you off on the other side of the island that night and pick you up again the next morning at 6am. That is one long ass night!
Anyway, the tsong tao ride to our resort was ridiculous. And by that I mean there were 7 of us crammed into the back of this tsong tao and it was kind of like off roading. Very crazy and really only those drivers in those vans could get us there safely (according to Brett although from what we saw it was most likely true). There were twists and bends and the road was all over the place. We went through bush even. It was very bumpy too, not as bad as Nepal, but maybe close.
After an hour of what everyone found to be a torturous tsong tao ride, we arrived on this amazing secluded beach. White sand, incredible blue water, cliffs of mountains on either side of our stretch of beach. It was glorious. I can see why people hire a boat to take them to this side of the island for the day now!
When we got there it was lunch time so we all ate. I don't remember what I ordered but whatever it was I know was amazing. The food here was incredible. Sooo good. I knew I wanted a massage as well so I booked that with Jillienne and Katie after lunch. All 3 of us booked it together for the same time and same type of massage: Thai. I was hoping the lady I got would use more pressure than the last lady who gave me a Thai massage used. The massage was 350 or 400 baht. I can't remember exactly how much now but I think around $13.
After that I jumped into the water. It was so nice. I think I was in it for maybe 2 hours or so. I was definitely prune-ified! I chatted with a lot of other people from the group in the water. Rob and Joanne were telling me about their European adventure. They had gone with g to Europe before stopping in Cambodia for a few days and then heading to Bangkok. They went a lot of places in Europe! We also played frisbee although I think Rob got sick of it once David left because us girls weren't as amazing at it.
After swimming I migrated to a hammock and relaxed there blogging for a bit. I must have been catching up on other things because I definitely wasn't blogging about this considering it is now August 4 and I am trying to fill in these days!
On the way back to the room I was looking at my arms and didn't think I had really gotten too much color. I was disappointed since I had been in the sun all day. Then, I got in the shower and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The tan lines I had were CRAZY! It was like black and white. Guess I'm not a good judge of that... Ha.
Since I had been in the sun all day I was exhausted. Physically and mentally. I laid down on the bed to read and ended up just falling asleep. I think I slept for 2 hours and then Marion woke me up for dinner. I was still exhausted.
Again, I don't remember what I had for dinner but whatever it was was amazing. I cannot express enough how great the food was there. The only thing I was disappointed about was the grilled cheese toast. It wasn't like the grilled cheese toast in Nepal. It was open faced. But, it was still cheese which I miss soo soo much, so it served its purpose.
A bunch of the group stayed up playing King's Cup, a drinking game, but I had to go to sleep. Nadya was talking to me and I couldn't even process what she was saying to me I was so tired. I think being out in the sun all day literally just wiped me out. Apparently tanning is hard work!
I may have written about this earlier for the 4th, but when we got up the next day, Marion and a few other people were talking about red tide. Apparently around 1am the plankton in the water was glowing all around them. Missed out on that for sure but there's no way I would have even been able to stay awake that long anyway. I wanted to try to see it the next night but I don't even think I would have been able to. Brett said he's been here so many times and been awake late and that was the first time he had ever seen it.
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