Beep. Beep. Beep
You blink twice before realizing your alarm is going off. For the fifth time. Damn. Giving yourself 0.5 seconds to wipe the sleep out of your eyes and kick yourself for sleeping in, you throw on the first thing you see in your closet. Brush teeth, smooth hair. Jumping in your car, you realize you don't have time to pick up that much needed coffee. Double damn.
You drive to work, grumbling about staying up too late, that report you need to hand in, and the awful traffic. Why are people driving so slow! Have they never heard of being in a hurry?! Oh, look at that..Should have filled up with gas on the way home after all. What a shitty start to a persons day right?
What does that have to do with traveling you may be thinking?
Every single day, life presents you with obstacles and situations that challenge your patience, your ability to "deal".
My biggest challenge has been learning how to "Shake it Out". Shake that mood, that little piece of something that hasn't gone the way you hoped. Bad days don't just happen at home, on a work day. The world is full of bad days.
When Andrew and I woke up this morning to catch our bus, we were both exhausted, and far from ready to spend another day on a stuffy bus. We crept around the dorm room, careful not to wake the occupant of the top bunk. After collecting our things, we rushed across the street to eat breakfast. Thinking we were short on time, we crushed a coffee and muesli and quickly walked down to pick up water and snacks for the journey. Next in line at the 7/11, a man walked in the front entrance, stepped to the very front of the line, and proceeded to make his purchase. Umm, what?! This ignorance towards line ups has really boggled my mind here in Asia. Everywhere you go, people push and shove to reach their destination, and when there does seem to be some organization, someone always ignores it. Although frustrating, the best thing to do is just let it be.
After paying for our water and crackers, we went back up to the hostel where we were told the bus would be late. 45 minutes late. Okaaay, so much for rushing. So we sat, tired and annoyed. Now we sit here on this little squishy van, with no idea if this is what will be taking us the 6 hours to Koh Chang, or if we are transferring onto an actual bus at some point.. We could sit here angry, demand the driver tell us where we are going, whether we paid for a little van with broken a/c or a comfortable bus with working a/c (and a bathroom? Ok that's pushing it). Instead, we sit back, take a look around, and smile.
As Jim Brickman says "Lalalala la la, it's a Beautiful World"
Wherever you are, take a minute to be thankful. Thankful to be healthy, to have a clean bed to sleep in, food to fill your hungry bellies. That's just the beginning. There is so much to be positive about in this wonderful world of ours. I'm not asking you to forget the people who are less fortunate, or the countries that are in need of so much. Just take time out of your day to forgive "that guy" that cut you off, or have some patience with the "stupid" tele-marketers for doing their job. Smile at someone walking down the street. Thank the cashier ringing through your milk. Most of all, give the people you love a hug and kiss, and if you find yourself in a crummy mood "Shake it Out".
I promise I'm working on taking my own advice!
I'll update all after our travels in Koh Chang. Thanks for reading.
Take a listen to Shake it Out by Florence + The Machine and Beautiful World by Jim Brickman
:)
A&C
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
A&C, Feeling "Amasian"
Sawatdee!
Here we are, back in Bangkok! Which means we have a lot to update everyone on. Sitting in the Elefin Cafe, sipping on a latte, what better time then now to fill you in.
Our first stop after Bangkok was an island called Koh Tao. We had heard many good things about the diving there, so after a couple weeks since our last dive we were pretty excited to gear up and swim with the fish! We spent two nights there and fit in 4 dives (and one Thai massage!). The diving was great, although there were tons of other divers in the same areas underwater. I think we may have been spoiled in the Philippines, as some of the areas were quite remote in comparison. Still, no complaints! We had a great dive master, and seen loads of cool fish and sea-life, including a Sting Ray-Andy thinks we should amp our story up a little bit "We were chased by s Sting Ray, and Chelsie shot it with her spear gun!" Better?!
After Koh Tao we took a quick boat ride over to Koh Phangan. We had the best 4 nights, although our livers were paying for it afterwards. We stayed at a hostel called The Lazy House, where, on arrival, we were shown around Haad Rin, and introduced to some dorm-mates. Already we could tell it was going to be a great hostel to spend the Full Moon Party at. Koh Phangan is the island of the legendary Half Moon and Full Moon parties. People come from all over the world to deck themselves out in neon paint, neon shorts and Full Moon tank tops, and drink buckets on the beach! A bucket is literally a sand bucket filled with your choice of alcohol (vodka, rum, whiskey, etc.) and your choice of mix (sprite and red bull is a popular one). Throw a few straws in there, and you are good to go! Now, it may seem like a good idea at the time, but after about 2 or 3 of those the idea doesn't seem so intelligent the next day!
Our first night in Koh Phangan we met with a group from the hostel at the Lazy House restaurant, The Outback. This was the first time we had met so many other Canadians! After eating, we decided to start a game of Flip Cup! Team Canada Vs. The World! Can you guess who came out on top?? Team Canada baby!! We ruled the Flip Cup table, and soon had people from other tables coming to join in on the fun. After many games of that, we decided to head off to a popular hostel, Coral Bungalows, for one of their famous pool parties. It was crazy. We have never seen so many people in/around a pool. There were people, buckets, and clothes flying everywhere! It was great fun, even if the pool was a tad warmer then is should have been...
The next day we got moving around 11am and re-grouped with Team Canada. We walked down to the beach where we met another group of Canadian girls. We decided to hire a boat to drive us over to another part of the island where we could hike into a waterfall. We all hopped on the long-tail boat, and after about 30 minutes we arrived. We spent the day hiking into what was more of a swimming hole then waterfall. It was a beautiful day out, so we just relaxed on the rocks, and swam around. It was an awesome day getting to know our friends from all over Canada. That night we played some Sociables, more Flip Cup, and headed to a pre-Full Moon beach party. The beach was packed, and that was just an intro as to what the next night would hold! We didn't stay out long, as we knew the next night would be a long one!
The next day a bunch of us rented motorbikes and drove to a small lake nearby. We had heard there was a swing rope, so we thought we would check it out. Conveniently situated alongside the lake was a bar/restaurant promising free use of the swing rope to customers. We decided to stop for some lunch and a drink. After eating we all took our turns at the rope and swam around the lake. There was also a floating dock, floating "mountain", and a couple of small water tramps. We played around for the day, then rode our bikes back to get ready for the Full Moon Party! After showering,we got our battle gear on and made our way over to another hostel where everyone was getting painted up! Buckets in hand, neon shorts and tanks on, we painted stripes, Canadian flags, even a moose head for Andy! Satisfied with our creations, we headed into the sea of neon. It wasn't hard to spot Andrew out of the crowd, as he had a huge Canadian flag on his back! Although, we did see one guy with the flag painted on his face..
We danced, watched the fire shows, and drank our buckets. We were determined to watch the sunrise! At one point it was absolutely pouring, but the music pumped on, and we danced like crazy. It was one of the greatest moments of the trip, both of us just having the time of our lives!! By 6am we were spent! But, like I said we were still determined, and at 7am when that sun poked out, there were still loads of people fist-pumping along the beach(not to mention many passed out along the beach..). We all sat on a picnic table and watched the sun come up, putting an end to an unforgettable night. Bellies full from the chicken sandwiches we enjoyed earlier that morning, we made our way back to the hostel, showered off whatever paint was left over and crashed into bed. That day we slept, ate, slept again, and watched Avatar with our dorm-mates. Pretty low key after our crazy Full Moon night. The next day we left our island of fun and made our way to the chill town of Railay.
We got to Railay and realized it was the perfect post-party place to spend a few days. Laid back and relaxed is exactly what we needed. We found a nice little bungalow to stay in and made our way to the beach to watch the sunset. Our first full day in Railay was spent hanging out in the infinity pool. The sun was out, and we were happy to lay around and do nothing! We treated ourselves to a traditional Thai massage, where Andy left feeling like he got "shit-kicked". Alright, so the Thai woman are a little rough... At least he only had to pay $6 to get a little beating right?!
That night we experienced the best fire show of Thailand! Held at the Last Bar, these Thai men are talented!! One was swinging the fire ropes from his mouth! There were fire sticks being tossed in the air, to each other, and even synchronized routines. It was unbelievable! We talked to one guy, and he said that he had to practice for 6 months without fire before be was aloud to light the sticks. Many of the Thai men working the fire shows are also DJ's, rock climbing instructors, bartenders, etc. Very busy, but talented young men.
The next day we decided to try out some rock climbing! Im not a huge fan of heights, so I was a little nervous at first. In the end, we both loved it!! Railay is known for it's amazing rock climbing. We started at 9am and with only a short lunch break, climbed until 6pm! It was a long and tiring day, but so much fun! We both loved the challenge, and the feeling you get when you reach the top. Totally exhilarating! Not to mention, the breathtaking view. We definitely want to do it again.
That night we met a couple from Germany, and a girl from Norway. We watched another fire show, then went for a late night swim and snack! Time flew by us, because by the time we said goodnight, it was 430am! We now have another European country to visit friends in!
We were sad to leave Railay the next day. We so enjoyed our days by the pool, evenings sitting eating pizza and drinking Mojito's at Joy Bar, listening to Bob Marley, and watching the sunsets. Mornings lounging on pillows, eating Muesli, and sipping on a coffee. So much to be thankful for in those 3 days on Railay.
One evening in Railay, we met a guy who had just come from a cstch and release fishing resort just outside of Krabi(about a 10 min boat ride from Railay, and 35 min drive from there). After Andrew and him chatted, looked at pictures, it didnt take me long to see that this was going to be our next stop! So, we packed out bags, sent a few emails, and booked a night at Gilhams Fishing Resort. We arrived to a beautiful lake with bungalows surrounding it. The resort is owned by a family from England,and they were so friendly and helpful we didn't want to leave! The rooms were gorgeous,and you could see the sun rise from the mountains right from bed! It was quite a luxury in a backpackers world.
The day we got there, I set up by the infinity pool with my book, while Andy got ready to fight with some fish! From 1pm until 8pm he fished, with one of the staff Joel, there to coach him on. These fish are no easy catch. It takes up to an hour sometimes to bring one in.
The lake is stocked with over 1000 fish, of 50 different species. In the last 6 years since the resort opened, only 25 species have been caught! Joel told us there are fish over 500lbs in there. Andrew said "there are grizzly bears in that water!" The first day Andrew caught a 90lb Mekong Catfish, and right before ending the night, a 260lb Arapaima. That was a good fight.
The next morning we woke up bright and early. Andy headed out to the lake and was fishing by 7am. I decided to go for a run around the lake a few times. When I got back, one of the staff had asked Andrew who was chasing me.. By noon, Andrew had brought in 7 fish! Three Siamese Carp varying from 30-50lbs, four Amazon Red Tails varying from 20-40 lbs. At the end of the day, a 130lb Mekong fought with Andrew for at least 45 minutes! A good way to end the trip. I don't think I've ever seen a guy sweat so much! Joel had asked "You ready for some pain?!" He meant it. Regardless, Andy would go back in a second!
After leaving Gilhams, we spent one night in Ao-Nang before heading back to Bangkok. I spent the morning doing a Yoga Detox, while Andy toured around the city (and walked onto a private beach full of seniors..he got kicked off within 5 minutes).
Well, we are all caught up! After a night bus here, we dropped our bags off at Soi 1 and sat down for some fruit and muesli, and a coffee. Now we are going to leave you at that, and head off to the infamous weekend market!!
Cheers!
A&C
Here we are, back in Bangkok! Which means we have a lot to update everyone on. Sitting in the Elefin Cafe, sipping on a latte, what better time then now to fill you in.
Our first stop after Bangkok was an island called Koh Tao. We had heard many good things about the diving there, so after a couple weeks since our last dive we were pretty excited to gear up and swim with the fish! We spent two nights there and fit in 4 dives (and one Thai massage!). The diving was great, although there were tons of other divers in the same areas underwater. I think we may have been spoiled in the Philippines, as some of the areas were quite remote in comparison. Still, no complaints! We had a great dive master, and seen loads of cool fish and sea-life, including a Sting Ray-Andy thinks we should amp our story up a little bit "We were chased by s Sting Ray, and Chelsie shot it with her spear gun!" Better?!
After Koh Tao we took a quick boat ride over to Koh Phangan. We had the best 4 nights, although our livers were paying for it afterwards. We stayed at a hostel called The Lazy House, where, on arrival, we were shown around Haad Rin, and introduced to some dorm-mates. Already we could tell it was going to be a great hostel to spend the Full Moon Party at. Koh Phangan is the island of the legendary Half Moon and Full Moon parties. People come from all over the world to deck themselves out in neon paint, neon shorts and Full Moon tank tops, and drink buckets on the beach! A bucket is literally a sand bucket filled with your choice of alcohol (vodka, rum, whiskey, etc.) and your choice of mix (sprite and red bull is a popular one). Throw a few straws in there, and you are good to go! Now, it may seem like a good idea at the time, but after about 2 or 3 of those the idea doesn't seem so intelligent the next day!
Our first night in Koh Phangan we met with a group from the hostel at the Lazy House restaurant, The Outback. This was the first time we had met so many other Canadians! After eating, we decided to start a game of Flip Cup! Team Canada Vs. The World! Can you guess who came out on top?? Team Canada baby!! We ruled the Flip Cup table, and soon had people from other tables coming to join in on the fun. After many games of that, we decided to head off to a popular hostel, Coral Bungalows, for one of their famous pool parties. It was crazy. We have never seen so many people in/around a pool. There were people, buckets, and clothes flying everywhere! It was great fun, even if the pool was a tad warmer then is should have been...
The next day we got moving around 11am and re-grouped with Team Canada. We walked down to the beach where we met another group of Canadian girls. We decided to hire a boat to drive us over to another part of the island where we could hike into a waterfall. We all hopped on the long-tail boat, and after about 30 minutes we arrived. We spent the day hiking into what was more of a swimming hole then waterfall. It was a beautiful day out, so we just relaxed on the rocks, and swam around. It was an awesome day getting to know our friends from all over Canada. That night we played some Sociables, more Flip Cup, and headed to a pre-Full Moon beach party. The beach was packed, and that was just an intro as to what the next night would hold! We didn't stay out long, as we knew the next night would be a long one!
The next day a bunch of us rented motorbikes and drove to a small lake nearby. We had heard there was a swing rope, so we thought we would check it out. Conveniently situated alongside the lake was a bar/restaurant promising free use of the swing rope to customers. We decided to stop for some lunch and a drink. After eating we all took our turns at the rope and swam around the lake. There was also a floating dock, floating "mountain", and a couple of small water tramps. We played around for the day, then rode our bikes back to get ready for the Full Moon Party! After showering,we got our battle gear on and made our way over to another hostel where everyone was getting painted up! Buckets in hand, neon shorts and tanks on, we painted stripes, Canadian flags, even a moose head for Andy! Satisfied with our creations, we headed into the sea of neon. It wasn't hard to spot Andrew out of the crowd, as he had a huge Canadian flag on his back! Although, we did see one guy with the flag painted on his face..
We danced, watched the fire shows, and drank our buckets. We were determined to watch the sunrise! At one point it was absolutely pouring, but the music pumped on, and we danced like crazy. It was one of the greatest moments of the trip, both of us just having the time of our lives!! By 6am we were spent! But, like I said we were still determined, and at 7am when that sun poked out, there were still loads of people fist-pumping along the beach(not to mention many passed out along the beach..). We all sat on a picnic table and watched the sun come up, putting an end to an unforgettable night. Bellies full from the chicken sandwiches we enjoyed earlier that morning, we made our way back to the hostel, showered off whatever paint was left over and crashed into bed. That day we slept, ate, slept again, and watched Avatar with our dorm-mates. Pretty low key after our crazy Full Moon night. The next day we left our island of fun and made our way to the chill town of Railay.
We got to Railay and realized it was the perfect post-party place to spend a few days. Laid back and relaxed is exactly what we needed. We found a nice little bungalow to stay in and made our way to the beach to watch the sunset. Our first full day in Railay was spent hanging out in the infinity pool. The sun was out, and we were happy to lay around and do nothing! We treated ourselves to a traditional Thai massage, where Andy left feeling like he got "shit-kicked". Alright, so the Thai woman are a little rough... At least he only had to pay $6 to get a little beating right?!
That night we experienced the best fire show of Thailand! Held at the Last Bar, these Thai men are talented!! One was swinging the fire ropes from his mouth! There were fire sticks being tossed in the air, to each other, and even synchronized routines. It was unbelievable! We talked to one guy, and he said that he had to practice for 6 months without fire before be was aloud to light the sticks. Many of the Thai men working the fire shows are also DJ's, rock climbing instructors, bartenders, etc. Very busy, but talented young men.
The next day we decided to try out some rock climbing! Im not a huge fan of heights, so I was a little nervous at first. In the end, we both loved it!! Railay is known for it's amazing rock climbing. We started at 9am and with only a short lunch break, climbed until 6pm! It was a long and tiring day, but so much fun! We both loved the challenge, and the feeling you get when you reach the top. Totally exhilarating! Not to mention, the breathtaking view. We definitely want to do it again.
That night we met a couple from Germany, and a girl from Norway. We watched another fire show, then went for a late night swim and snack! Time flew by us, because by the time we said goodnight, it was 430am! We now have another European country to visit friends in!
We were sad to leave Railay the next day. We so enjoyed our days by the pool, evenings sitting eating pizza and drinking Mojito's at Joy Bar, listening to Bob Marley, and watching the sunsets. Mornings lounging on pillows, eating Muesli, and sipping on a coffee. So much to be thankful for in those 3 days on Railay.
One evening in Railay, we met a guy who had just come from a cstch and release fishing resort just outside of Krabi(about a 10 min boat ride from Railay, and 35 min drive from there). After Andrew and him chatted, looked at pictures, it didnt take me long to see that this was going to be our next stop! So, we packed out bags, sent a few emails, and booked a night at Gilhams Fishing Resort. We arrived to a beautiful lake with bungalows surrounding it. The resort is owned by a family from England,and they were so friendly and helpful we didn't want to leave! The rooms were gorgeous,and you could see the sun rise from the mountains right from bed! It was quite a luxury in a backpackers world.
The day we got there, I set up by the infinity pool with my book, while Andy got ready to fight with some fish! From 1pm until 8pm he fished, with one of the staff Joel, there to coach him on. These fish are no easy catch. It takes up to an hour sometimes to bring one in.
The lake is stocked with over 1000 fish, of 50 different species. In the last 6 years since the resort opened, only 25 species have been caught! Joel told us there are fish over 500lbs in there. Andrew said "there are grizzly bears in that water!" The first day Andrew caught a 90lb Mekong Catfish, and right before ending the night, a 260lb Arapaima. That was a good fight.
The next morning we woke up bright and early. Andy headed out to the lake and was fishing by 7am. I decided to go for a run around the lake a few times. When I got back, one of the staff had asked Andrew who was chasing me.. By noon, Andrew had brought in 7 fish! Three Siamese Carp varying from 30-50lbs, four Amazon Red Tails varying from 20-40 lbs. At the end of the day, a 130lb Mekong fought with Andrew for at least 45 minutes! A good way to end the trip. I don't think I've ever seen a guy sweat so much! Joel had asked "You ready for some pain?!" He meant it. Regardless, Andy would go back in a second!
After leaving Gilhams, we spent one night in Ao-Nang before heading back to Bangkok. I spent the morning doing a Yoga Detox, while Andy toured around the city (and walked onto a private beach full of seniors..he got kicked off within 5 minutes).
Well, we are all caught up! After a night bus here, we dropped our bags off at Soi 1 and sat down for some fruit and muesli, and a coffee. Now we are going to leave you at that, and head off to the infamous weekend market!!
Cheers!
A&C
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Bangkok, You Got Me
Sa Wat Dee!
We are two and a half weeks into Thailand,and couldn't be happier with what we have seen and done so far.
Our first stop in this remarkable country was Bangkok. A city that slaps you in the face with culture, delicious food, and a lovely kind of chaos. We instantly fell in love with the busy (but clean-in comparison to Manila) streets, the crazy night life, and of course, the STREET FOOD. The food is just so cheap too! A delicious spicy chicken and rice combo for 40 Baht! Or a huge plate of Pad Thai for 50 Baht. Even the western-style food comes cheap. In other words, eating well, for a good price, comes easy!
We spent 2 nights in Bangkok so far, and plan to head back this weekend for another couple nights. We didn't hit up the weekend market last time, so that's on our agenda for Sunday! "They" say if you can't find it at the market, you won't find it in Thailand! Mmm I love a good shopping session!!
We stayed at an awesome hostel while in the city, Soi 1 Backpackers. Really simple dorm rooms, but the atmosphere is everything! The owner, Dave, is the man to go to with ANY questions about ANYTHING to do with Bangkok. He knows where to go, how to get there, and the cheapest way to do it.
Our first night there was spent getting to know some of the other backpackers staying there, watching movies in the common room, and taking a walk around Bangkok. The next day we took the MRT and a short boat ride on the river to the Wat Pho Temples. Full of Buddhas and intricate tiling, one of these Temples holds the famous Reclining Buddha. An enormous Buddha(46 meters long)covered in gold leaf, laying on it's side. It is absolutely beautiful. Even just the tiles surrounding the other Buddhas, or covering the seats of the Buddhas, were gorgeous. The colors are magnificent, and the time it would have taken to create such architecture makes you appreciate it even more. I wouldn't mind visiting another temple once we are back in Bangkok.
Our second night in Bangkok was a crazy one! Dave puts on a hell of a pub crawl, and it was one of the first topics of conversation when we arrived at Soi 1. A group of 12 showed up that night, so Dave decided he better hold one of his legendary pub crawls. The party starts at 10:00pm and doesn't stop until Noon the next day! Although not many last that long. Andy and I were done, along with almost all the other pub-crawlers, by 630am..two others lasted until 10am, while Dave took the cake! He was STILL out somewhere at 1230pm the next day! Keep in mind this man is well into his fifties. Call me impressed. I won't go into complete details, but I will say that Bangkok is a CRAZY city, and the Hangover Part Two really doesn't exaggerate on what can go down.
We may have coped out early in Bangkok's standards, but I suppose that means we just have to give it another go next time round. We'll let ya know how it turns out...
The craziness didnt stop in Bangkok..Next post will be all about our time on the islands of Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, and Railay.
Khaawp Khoon Kaa to all for reading!
(that's Thank You in Thai)
xx A&C
We are two and a half weeks into Thailand,and couldn't be happier with what we have seen and done so far.
Our first stop in this remarkable country was Bangkok. A city that slaps you in the face with culture, delicious food, and a lovely kind of chaos. We instantly fell in love with the busy (but clean-in comparison to Manila) streets, the crazy night life, and of course, the STREET FOOD. The food is just so cheap too! A delicious spicy chicken and rice combo for 40 Baht! Or a huge plate of Pad Thai for 50 Baht. Even the western-style food comes cheap. In other words, eating well, for a good price, comes easy!
We spent 2 nights in Bangkok so far, and plan to head back this weekend for another couple nights. We didn't hit up the weekend market last time, so that's on our agenda for Sunday! "They" say if you can't find it at the market, you won't find it in Thailand! Mmm I love a good shopping session!!
We stayed at an awesome hostel while in the city, Soi 1 Backpackers. Really simple dorm rooms, but the atmosphere is everything! The owner, Dave, is the man to go to with ANY questions about ANYTHING to do with Bangkok. He knows where to go, how to get there, and the cheapest way to do it.
Our first night there was spent getting to know some of the other backpackers staying there, watching movies in the common room, and taking a walk around Bangkok. The next day we took the MRT and a short boat ride on the river to the Wat Pho Temples. Full of Buddhas and intricate tiling, one of these Temples holds the famous Reclining Buddha. An enormous Buddha(46 meters long)covered in gold leaf, laying on it's side. It is absolutely beautiful. Even just the tiles surrounding the other Buddhas, or covering the seats of the Buddhas, were gorgeous. The colors are magnificent, and the time it would have taken to create such architecture makes you appreciate it even more. I wouldn't mind visiting another temple once we are back in Bangkok.
Our second night in Bangkok was a crazy one! Dave puts on a hell of a pub crawl, and it was one of the first topics of conversation when we arrived at Soi 1. A group of 12 showed up that night, so Dave decided he better hold one of his legendary pub crawls. The party starts at 10:00pm and doesn't stop until Noon the next day! Although not many last that long. Andy and I were done, along with almost all the other pub-crawlers, by 630am..two others lasted until 10am, while Dave took the cake! He was STILL out somewhere at 1230pm the next day! Keep in mind this man is well into his fifties. Call me impressed. I won't go into complete details, but I will say that Bangkok is a CRAZY city, and the Hangover Part Two really doesn't exaggerate on what can go down.
We may have coped out early in Bangkok's standards, but I suppose that means we just have to give it another go next time round. We'll let ya know how it turns out...
The craziness didnt stop in Bangkok..Next post will be all about our time on the islands of Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, and Railay.
Khaawp Khoon Kaa to all for reading!
(that's Thank You in Thai)
xx A&C
Friday, March 02, 2012
How Do You Sum Up 11 Days in Paradise!?
Hey All!
We said goodbye to the Philippines on Wednesday after almost 6 weeks of touring. We loved every minute of it! Can't say we were too sad to leave though, as we had Thailand to look forward to!
Our last stop in Phili was the island of Palawan. Surrounded by limestone cliffs and crystal clear water, this was the most beautiful island we have ever been to. After picking Danni up in Manila, we took a plane to Puerto Princesa. It didn't take long for us to introduce Danni right into the life of a traveler, as we jumped right onto a Jeepney to Sabang. No better way to do as a Philippino does then to ride atop a Jeepney! For three hours the three of us huddled among bags of rice, bananas, and an array of other foods, clothes, and luggage. We arrived in Sabang slightly sun-burnt but happy to be there. We stayed in a little hut just off the beach for two nights. The main reason for stopping in Sabang was to see the Underground River (apparently one of the new natural wonders of the world..). You gear up with a helmet and lifejacket, jump on a little boat and tour through the caves for about 45 minutes. It was really neat to see, but I think we could have done without all the "this rock is called Sharon Stone" "this rock looks like a mushroom!" "oh look, it's a turtle rock" "what does this rock look like?!" I've also never seen so many bats in my life!
Sabang was nice, but the place we really wanted to be was El Nido! We took a 6 hour van there(we met a Philippino man from Grande Prairie! His name is Dave and he works at the Den! Such a small world) and arrives to sunshine and backpackers!
El Nido is a little nook of paradise. Great people, great food, and even better beaches. We met up with a few people we had previously met in other areas of the country, which was really cool! Walking into our hostel the day we got there, I almost ran right into Val coming from the beach, and before that we walked right by Chris, the Kiwi we met in Sagada! Later that day, we also met up with 2 Aussies we were in Sagada with. Our first full day there we went on an island hop. We spent the day snorkeling, swimming, and sitting on the beach! The lunch our guides made for us was amazing! We stopped on an island, and they hauled their baskets out, chopped up a bunch a fresh fruits and veggies, cooked up rice, fish, and pork, and we sat on the beach and filled our bellies. So tasty. We ended the day burying Val in the sand, and watching the sunset. Unreal.
A couple days were definitely lazy days, where we literally just read our books, wrote in our journals, and relaxed in the sun. It was so nice not making any plans. Just wake up, eat breakfast, sip a coffee, and..sit. Sit, eat, go for a swim, repeat.
One of the highlights was an overnight camping trip on a little island. 15 of us met up, and with 11 bottles of rum lined up on the beach, we set up tents, started a fire, and ate another delicious fish fry thanks to our guides. My favorite part was when we went for a midnight swim and seen how the water lights up when you move. It was as if my fingers and toes were sparking in the water! A couple of us that had never seen it before were swimming around like little kids, yelling and laughing, splashing the water. Andy loved getting to know our Philippine guides, and falling asleep under the stars(no way was he sleeping in a tent! The only downfall was him not having his hammock!). I won't go in to detail on the fact that all 11 bottles of rum were very empty in the morning...
One of our last days on the island we rented Kayaks(although I think Andrew underestimated Dan and my strength..getting back against the current was NOT an easy task!). We kayaked to another little island, swam and hung out on the beach. Worked up an appetite on the way back, so we stopped for a yummy falafel burger at Blue Azul.
Another highlight of El Nido was renting motorbikes with our Swiss friend Nico, and driving 45 minutes to a totally remote beach. There was NO ONE on the entire beach all day! This Beach was long and wide, with warm, clear water! The boys played frisbee while Dan and I did some sand writing. We spent most of the day here, none of us could get over the fact that we were the only people on this beach(check out Facebook for pics!) Another amazing day.
Food was awesome in El Nido as well! Yummy muesli for breakfast, curries and squid, pizza and falafel. A super good variety(although being in Thailand now, the food is is waaay better!).
The last 11 days are so hard to put in to words, I can sit here and describe what we did, but it just doesn't do the island, people, ocean, any justice. The friends we left behind are people we really hope to run into again! Judging by the way people travel in southeast Asia, I have a feeling we will do just that! Danish, Swiss, American, Finish, the list goes on for the countries we are now welcome to visit a friend in.
Leaving the Philippines also meant sending Danni off, back to Canada. It felt strange having her go home, and us to another country! It's still a little crazy that we have until July to travel. But, we are loving every minute of it, although we think of everyone at home everyday!
Ps I wasn't joking when I asked who was coming to visit next!!
Today we are off to southern Thailand. First stop is Koh Tao for some diving, then off to Koh Phangan. Actually, our bus leaves in ten minutes, so I better run!
Love to all, and I promise I won't wait so long to write the next post!
xx A&C
We said goodbye to the Philippines on Wednesday after almost 6 weeks of touring. We loved every minute of it! Can't say we were too sad to leave though, as we had Thailand to look forward to!
Our last stop in Phili was the island of Palawan. Surrounded by limestone cliffs and crystal clear water, this was the most beautiful island we have ever been to. After picking Danni up in Manila, we took a plane to Puerto Princesa. It didn't take long for us to introduce Danni right into the life of a traveler, as we jumped right onto a Jeepney to Sabang. No better way to do as a Philippino does then to ride atop a Jeepney! For three hours the three of us huddled among bags of rice, bananas, and an array of other foods, clothes, and luggage. We arrived in Sabang slightly sun-burnt but happy to be there. We stayed in a little hut just off the beach for two nights. The main reason for stopping in Sabang was to see the Underground River (apparently one of the new natural wonders of the world..). You gear up with a helmet and lifejacket, jump on a little boat and tour through the caves for about 45 minutes. It was really neat to see, but I think we could have done without all the "this rock is called Sharon Stone" "this rock looks like a mushroom!" "oh look, it's a turtle rock" "what does this rock look like?!" I've also never seen so many bats in my life!
Sabang was nice, but the place we really wanted to be was El Nido! We took a 6 hour van there(we met a Philippino man from Grande Prairie! His name is Dave and he works at the Den! Such a small world) and arrives to sunshine and backpackers!
El Nido is a little nook of paradise. Great people, great food, and even better beaches. We met up with a few people we had previously met in other areas of the country, which was really cool! Walking into our hostel the day we got there, I almost ran right into Val coming from the beach, and before that we walked right by Chris, the Kiwi we met in Sagada! Later that day, we also met up with 2 Aussies we were in Sagada with. Our first full day there we went on an island hop. We spent the day snorkeling, swimming, and sitting on the beach! The lunch our guides made for us was amazing! We stopped on an island, and they hauled their baskets out, chopped up a bunch a fresh fruits and veggies, cooked up rice, fish, and pork, and we sat on the beach and filled our bellies. So tasty. We ended the day burying Val in the sand, and watching the sunset. Unreal.
A couple days were definitely lazy days, where we literally just read our books, wrote in our journals, and relaxed in the sun. It was so nice not making any plans. Just wake up, eat breakfast, sip a coffee, and..sit. Sit, eat, go for a swim, repeat.
One of the highlights was an overnight camping trip on a little island. 15 of us met up, and with 11 bottles of rum lined up on the beach, we set up tents, started a fire, and ate another delicious fish fry thanks to our guides. My favorite part was when we went for a midnight swim and seen how the water lights up when you move. It was as if my fingers and toes were sparking in the water! A couple of us that had never seen it before were swimming around like little kids, yelling and laughing, splashing the water. Andy loved getting to know our Philippine guides, and falling asleep under the stars(no way was he sleeping in a tent! The only downfall was him not having his hammock!). I won't go in to detail on the fact that all 11 bottles of rum were very empty in the morning...
One of our last days on the island we rented Kayaks(although I think Andrew underestimated Dan and my strength..getting back against the current was NOT an easy task!). We kayaked to another little island, swam and hung out on the beach. Worked up an appetite on the way back, so we stopped for a yummy falafel burger at Blue Azul.
Another highlight of El Nido was renting motorbikes with our Swiss friend Nico, and driving 45 minutes to a totally remote beach. There was NO ONE on the entire beach all day! This Beach was long and wide, with warm, clear water! The boys played frisbee while Dan and I did some sand writing. We spent most of the day here, none of us could get over the fact that we were the only people on this beach(check out Facebook for pics!) Another amazing day.
Food was awesome in El Nido as well! Yummy muesli for breakfast, curries and squid, pizza and falafel. A super good variety(although being in Thailand now, the food is is waaay better!).
The last 11 days are so hard to put in to words, I can sit here and describe what we did, but it just doesn't do the island, people, ocean, any justice. The friends we left behind are people we really hope to run into again! Judging by the way people travel in southeast Asia, I have a feeling we will do just that! Danish, Swiss, American, Finish, the list goes on for the countries we are now welcome to visit a friend in.
Leaving the Philippines also meant sending Danni off, back to Canada. It felt strange having her go home, and us to another country! It's still a little crazy that we have until July to travel. But, we are loving every minute of it, although we think of everyone at home everyday!
Ps I wasn't joking when I asked who was coming to visit next!!
Today we are off to southern Thailand. First stop is Koh Tao for some diving, then off to Koh Phangan. Actually, our bus leaves in ten minutes, so I better run!
Love to all, and I promise I won't wait so long to write the next post!
xx A&C
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