Hello from Kata Beach, Phuket

Hearing: Waves crashing on the beach

Yours truely is currently walking along the beach and splasing around in the shallow waters. Ive been taking some photos and just generally enjoying the view, sun, sand and the sound of the waves.

Its monsoon season and red flags are dotted right along the beach which means strong undercurrents and no swimming allowed. But everyone is ignoring that and taking a dip anyway. I actually find that a bit worring because if something should happen there are only a couple of life guards around and they are mainly towards one end of the beach.

Anyway, im not a strong swimmer so i´ll be sticking to tanning, taking photos, people watching and playing in the shallow waters to cool off. I feel very lucky because im sure it must be freezing back home and here i am on a beautiful beach with a cloudless sky and perfect water...

VP

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Chang Mai, Thailand

Hearing: Thai tv series, hum of crickets, fan whirring

Im in Chang Mai, at a lovely little boutique hotel. Its brand new and has only been operating a year. At the moment im using their free internet in the lobby to download some of the photos from my camera on to a usb drive and hopefully to upload some into this post. But im getting a wee bit sleepy as it is 1am back home so i'll see how it goes.

My trip so far has been brilliant. Me and T - who is an old flying friend of mine decided to do a trip to Bangkok almost 3 years ago. This is that plan, chopped, changed, haphazardly thrown together and finally in motion. First stop was Bangkok, now Chang Mai, and next Phuket. Penang was supposed to be after that but it was axed on account of dreading the thought of having to pack up and fly another time to what essentially will just be another beach location.

So i'll be here for a couple more days and then on to sun, sand and lots of doing nothing... heehee :)

Anyway, today T and i took a walk for what was supposed to be a food run and turned into us walking to the Chang Mai Night Bazzar. Nothing out of the usual tourist market found in Bangkok, but we bought a few things and then looked for a place to have dinner. Only it was seriously disappointing to find that most places were very tourist oriented. 2 Starbucks within a block of each other, a Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Burger King and Subway...i mean i can understand it in Bangkok but not Chang Mai...and also lots of "foreign restaurants" like German beer houses...we ended up going back to a local place we saw as we were walking and had the most divine Tom Yum Soup which had pieces of crab, whole prawns, fish and mussels in it and we also had Salt and Pepper Squid. And it cost less than 300baht (approx 12 Australian dollars)...

I know ive been saying this endlessly the past couple of posts but i will get to updating about the Bangkok part of my trip. There is just so much that i want to do it justice and have the photos ready to ease the blocks of writing. And also i didnt really have much time in Bangkok to do anything aas i was constantly on the go.


Well it looks like ive run out of steam...till next time, g'night!

VP

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On the way to the airport

OMG! I just drove past my old crew hotel! My gosh it feels weird. Im in a taxi on my way to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Chiang Mai is next on the itinerary and i´ll be there for a few days before heading to Phuket. Yes ladies and gentleman i am being a thorough tourist and going to arguably the most touristy beach in Thailand but how can i not?

Anyway i know i havent posted up what i have been up to in Bangkok or any photos but ive been flat out and lacking time to sit at an internet cafe so please bear with me, they will be posted soon.

VP

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15Baht in Thailand

What does 15 Baht get you in Thailand? How does a 2hr trip to Ayutthaya by train sound? Unbeleivable? Well beleive it. Yeah its not a fancy air conditioned train but who cares? In fact i specifically chose to sit in a carriage that has wooden floors and seat benches cuz its just something you dont get everyday. And i love it :D

I´ll be taking photos as i go along and post them up when i get the chance. Ayutthaya here i come!

VP

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Lunch at Cabbages and Condoms

Hearing: light rain, people chatting, soft clink of cutlery n piano music.

Welcome to day two of my 2 weeks leave. At the moment im in a restaurant called Cabbages and Condoms having lunch and no im not joking. They have free Wi-Fi here so im typing this up on my mobile in between mouthfuls of delicious Thai food. I'll post again soon with what i've been up to so far and include some photos.

From a defrosted VP.

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