Koh Samui & Koh Tao Arrival

The only really good about our Ko Samui trip was our iBed Hostel.  It was beautiful.  After arriving 5 hours late to Koh Samui, we went for dinner and saw a huge Sunday night market with so much amazing womans’ clothes for unreal prices! The cutest dresses for the equilevant of $4!, Gladiator sandles for 3! and earing for 33 cents! After I had just boughten the same earings for $4 the other night.  We were starving so the guys said no shopping until after we eat.  While eating dinner on a covered patio, we noticed all of the market vendors hurrying and to pack their things up.  Kevin said they were closing, but it was only 8:30 and the sign said it went till 11, so I said that I had seen this before in LA at the market, when the cops come, everyone packs up their conterfeight merchandise, and hides their copied dvd’s.  But Kevin disagreed and said they are off work, and they are hurrying because they want to go home, the faster they pack up, they can leave.  Thats when it started downpouring rain! the road was instantly running like a river, and I couldn’t stop laughing because it was so warm out yet pouring and it was the coolest thing ever!  BUt the rain didn’t stop so the vendors went home, and I missed all of the deals.  Our whole stay we never saw the sun and it just poured rain throughout the day on and off with overcast, yet 30 degrees Celsius out.  So we sat around the iBed Hostel for 2 days and watched movies and I met a couple friends temporarily (longer story).

The most we saw of the island was when Dustin and I walked 1.5km to the post office with a few suvenours and old clothes we didnt want to pack anymore, things we wern’t using. (Kevin didn’t make it past McDonalds).  We had no idea how much it was going to cost, but heard from many people that it is relitivally cheap, and worth it rather than to pack extra stuff around.  Well that was not the case! We packeged it all up in a 1 cubic sqare feet box, and it was fairly light.  Our cheapest option was $40 and it would take 3 months to reach the island! Our next option got their in 1 month, but was $72! Yikes!  So we went for the cheapest option and wont get our stuff until almost May! Dustin will have to buy a new belt in Bangkok, because he packed his only belt in the box.  Anyhow, all 3 of us had stomach aches most of the time, so we decided to check out of the Ibed this morning and head to Koh Tao for diving, hoping the weather was nicer too.

Koh Tao Arrival

The ferry to  Koh Tao was so crowded that we didnt get seats inside (they always seem to sell more tickets then they can accompany for, as there were standers on our 4 hour coachline busride to Phuket). So we were stuck cramped on the rocky top deck for over an hour long ferry ride.  The boat began to rock so bad everyone was falling over, and we were getting bucketed with ocean water.  So we made our way downstairs, grabbing on to everything, people were falling into into each other. We squeezed in and they handed out barf bags.  I sat on the floor by the exit, and a girl puked on the floor beside me! there were tons of people puking!  I couldn’t believe Dustin  was fine, he took Gravol before we left but almost every other boat we have been on this trip he has felt sea sick.  The Thai ferry employees were so funny they were giggling at the puking as they cleaned it up, and they had this menthol oil they put under their noses so they couldn’t smell the puke, and they gave me some after the girl puked beside me.  It was delicious!

When got off the ferry and arrived on Koh Tao, there was a bench of local Thai guys who called me over, they were all giggling and held there cameras up and asked to have a picture with me.  Kevin was listening to his iPod and looking for our bags, and Dustin went to the bathroom, so I smiled and took pictures with these strangers as they took turns and everyone laughed it was weird.   I really wonder what it was that was so funny about me!

A lady asked if we were looking for a taxi and we told her we were going to Sairee Cottages, and she said to follow her.  We got to the taxi and it was a pick up truck with benches on the side!  I was like no way, Dustin was excited, and im not sure what kevin thought.  Dustin starting getting in the back but they said there were 3 seats inside the cab of the truck.  So we jumped inside.  We got to our bungalow and it is great! We love it here!

Only thing we miss in our beach bungalow is wi-fi, so i am going to breakfast tomorrow to use the restaurants free wi-fi.  Might not get on everyday, as dives are usually in the morning.

Hope everything is fine at home.  Was really home sick last night! especially after watching Saving Private Ryan.

xo

Jade

Last Karon Night and Ko Samui Arrival

Had a early morning this morning and a long day of traveling today.  After being bumped from a van, to a bus, to a ferry, then a van, we finally arrived at our iBed Hostel in Ko Samui.  What was supposed to be a 6.5 hour trip, was really a 10.5. So we set up, went for dinner, and are now in bed.  if you haven’t checked it out, its a very modernized hostel that is just beautiful.

Last night was our last night in Karon, and we made it a peaceful one.   Dustin bought a sky lantern and we went to the beach to send it to heaven with our loving thoughts and memories for Dustin’s Grandma Flo.  She passed unexpectedly a week into our travels, and its been difficult going on with our journey with all the hurting at home.  It’s hard being so far away from family at such a difficult time, but we know she is in a better place and that she would have wanted us to go on with our journey.  We were very fortunate to have spent a wonderful afternoon with her the day we left, and she even gave us Nanaimo Harbour pins, that I put on my backpack for the trip.  She is very missed, and in our hearts daily.

xo

Jade

Koh Phi Phi and More Karon

On Tuesday we took a full day speed boat tour to the Phi Phi Islands.  It was so much fun!  They picked us up at our guesthouse and we took a speed boat out of the Phuket Marina (which was amazing).  The Marina is currently building these amazing homes which you pull your boat into an indoor glass garage that you can view from your living room.  We watched the sales video and there is even your own roof top patio swimming pool!  Anyhow,  it was a hour bumpy wet fast speed boat ride , and we rode in the bow.  We first went to the famous Maya Bay on Phi Phi Ley, it was where the movie The Beach was filmed.  It was a crazy busy tourist attraction, but it was nonetheless beautiful!  Then we toured around the island by boat and by the Viking Cave.   Then we went to my favorite, Monkey Beach!!! There were wild monkeys that we got to feed bananas too.  They were chubby monkeys and used to the tourists, I think they know what time the boats come in and wait to them to feed them.   After a buffet lunch at the beachside of Phi Phi Don,  we did an amazing snorkel at Phi Phi Don in Lo Dalum Bay. Fish were EVERYWHERE!  it was so cool, you couldn’t help but hit them swimming through them sometimes.  Dustin and Kevin got some great underwater vids I will be sure to add.  We finished up the afternoon snorkeling and suntanning on Koh Yung Island, a very small island, part of the Phi Phi islands.  The snorkeling was very shallow so I got to see everything close up.  There were so many black spiky sea urchins that sting you so you have to swim so carefully.  The fish were more agressive there, and I got bit on my elbow!!!!

Other then Phi Phi, we have been enjoying our laid back daily routines in Karon.  We are going to miss our breakfast and dinners at Ed’s Eatery, and snorkeling on the south end of Karon Beach- (Kevin saw an octopus today!), bartering,  Changs, and the reggae bar across the street.

Tomorrow we catch an early bus to Ko Samui.  We will be staying at the iBed hostel and we are super excited, the place looks awesome!

xo

Jade

Kata and Karon Beach’s

After two crazy busy day and nights in Patong, we were ready to find something less crowded, and with bigger waves.  We took a tuk tuk to Kata Beach where we stayed at the Little Mermaid Resort.  They were all out of the beach side bungalows we planned to get, so they gave us a great deal on a huge family condo type.  We had a full living area and fridge, and 2 king size beds attached to make just one giant bed! and I had my own vanity station where I set up.  We also had a huge deck that overlooked our pool.  It was a beautiful place, but it was way to far of a walk to the beach, the beach was small, and it stunk in the Kata area as there were stinky swamps throughout.   We stayed there two nights and body surfed the big waves in the day.

On Saturday, after going for our  usual bacon and egg and toast breakfast, we caught a tuk tuk to the nearby larger beach Karon.  We loved what we found in Karon! Quieter, laid back beach, very cheap guest house The Kangaroo, only $8 Canadian each a night, and really close to the beach, in the perfect area.  Although I am sleeping on a cot, We have a cute cozy deck that you sit on that you have to climb through the window to get to.  We love this beach and area so much, we booked another 3 nights, and plan to book more right until Sunday.  Today we went snorkeling on the south end of Karon beach, it was so perfect, calm, clear water, with a ton of fish and sea life!

We also found our favorite restaurant here and are now regulars.  It is called Ed’s Eating House.  The place is amazing, it literary has over 100 items to order (they are numbered)  and the food has never let us down!  The prices are cheap, and you get a free salad bar and free ice cream for dessert! The staff is amazing and they work so well as a team, the kitchen is fully visible and you can see how hard the staff are working.  It is also packed, there is never an empty table at dinner time.  I love it! Me and Dustin had the best calamari of our lives there.

We are excited for tomorrow, we are going on a full day speed boat tour of Ko Phi Phi Islands, including monkey beach!  and lots of snorkeling! Dustin and Kevin have got some great vids and pics on their underwater GoPros.

More pictures to come.

Really missing everyone
xo

Jade

Phuket

We caught the night train out of Bangkok on Monday night, and headed to Phuket.  It wasn’t much more to go first class, so we went for it, and it was so fun.  First class train is not like the airplanes, but be and Dustin got a private cabin with big folding bunks, a table and our own sink and mirror.  And Kevins room attatched through a door we opened up, and his roomate was in his friends room so we had double the space while we hung out before bedtime.  I have never riden a real train before, only the ones at the forest museum and Disneyland.   But I loved it, it was so much fun and I really had a great sleep.  Whenever I woke up I was so excited that I was sleeping on a train, and the sound of the tracks put me to sleep.  Only hard part was arriving at 5am in the morning where we had to still catch a bus that didnt come until 730am.  But there was breakfast places open and it was fun.  On the bus ride we passed a scooter accident that had happened, scooter was smashed and blood was on the road! We will not be renting scooters.

We made it to Patong Beach in Phuket where we are staying at the Narry Hotel.  Once again, cheaper to get a hotel then a hostel for 3 people paying individually.  This beach is CRAZY BUSY! there are thousands among thousands of tourists everywhere and there are 2 cruise ships in the harbour.  There are so many markets and so many great deals.  The night life here is also crazy, very busy and lots of young people like us also backpacking around.  Yesterday we got a fish pedicure! it was really fun, but very ticklish! We all noticed our feet and calluses were much softer today! We have found delishes american food, made by the local Thai’s, for really great prices.  They also have McDonalds here, and I love love love that beside the ketchup pump is Sweet Chilli Thai sauce!  Just like the kind I love from Costco!   Ronald McDonald is at every Mcdonalds, but is in a praying stance with his hands infront of him.  The menu is simular to home with a few local additions such as a ham and chicken Pie, a pork burger, and a spicy chicken burger.

Today we spent the day at the busy beach and layed out on lawn chairs between cooling down in the not very cool water.  The water is so warm here it doesnt really refresh you much, but you dont ever get a chill just floating in the waves for a hour or so.  There are seadoos to rent and para sailing, but everything is tourist expensive.  They want $50 CAD to rent a seadoo for half a hour.  Hopefully we find them cheaper along our trip at a less busy tourist destination.

Oh, and Dustin crashed our hotel internet yesterday downloading a movie.  The router needed to be reset but the hotel staff insisted they would get the IT guy to fix it, after going to the beach and dinner and coming home hours later to internet still not working, Kevin missioned down to the 3rd floor, round the router and reset it.  We are up and running again!

Heading to find some dinner now.

xo

Jade

PS. My hip is healed.  In fact Kevin diagnosed it, it was a nerve running down the front of my hip to my thigh, and my leg would give out when the nerve was pinched, while walking.  One day in Hong Kong it happened about a dozen times and was really painful, but after that day I haven’t felt it since!

My Pictures

Noticing not many of you have looked at my Flickr pics. Just so you know, all the pictures on the right hand side of my page are mine and you can click them to view my whole album of Hong Kong. More to Come! Camera broke today, still figuring out what to do, and if I can even get a waterproof digital cam here…

Thailand Airways and Bangkok Arrival

We flew to Bangkok, Thailand today on Thailand Airways.  They seats in the plane were multicoloured pink, purple, blue, yellow, very Thailand looking, and the Thai flight attendants were dressed very beautifully in colourful long skirts and sashes, very different from Air Canada.  It was only a two hour flight and we got 2 free alcoholic drinks, a snack, and a full meal, dessert, and Chinese tea!  Oh and all the ladies received fresh flower broaches to wear off the plane.  I stuck mine in my hair so my pack wouldn’t ruin it.  When we arrived in the Thailand airport, we went to pick up are bags only to see that the bag carousel was stopped and flashing.  We circled the baggage claim to find our bags only to find that Kevin’s bag was stuck in the carousel so bad that it completely ruined his brand new pack!  His whole strap is completely in 2 pieces and ripped, no longer wearable as a backpack.  They were pretty accommodating and sympathetic about the situation, but Kevin still has a broken back.  They took pictures and he filled out info, and has to call tomorrow for the damage claim estimate.  They recognized that the pack was completely ruined and asked for the value of the pack.  Hope he can get a new one ASAP! Will have to see what they say tomorrow.  At least I brought black duck tape! I knew these extra things I packed would come in useful, so we super taped up Kevs pack for now.

We took a taxi from the airport to our hotel, as it was only around $13 CAD.  The cab driver didn’t speak English that great, but managed to get us to the right place.  Thailand is crazy!  On the cab ride to our hotel we saw, guys riding and sleeping in the back of a pick-up truck, a car towing another car with a rope attached down the highway, 7 people crammed into a 2 person Tuk tuk, and multiple crazy scooter drivers weaving in and out of traffic between 2 cars in lanes side by side.  Of those scooters, barley anyone had helmets, girls were sitting on them sideways like a bench seat, and I have already seen about a dozen babies/toddlers with no helmets just being held by their dad with one hand on a crazy scooter ride down the busy roads.

Our hotel is pretty sweet.  It was cheaper than a hostel because with a hostel we pay per person, around $15-$20 each.  But we got this 3 bed hotel for under $25 dollars a night total.  We went to explore our new neighbourhood, and it was interesting.  People everywhere were staring at us.  Traffic was so insane they don’t even stop at the cross walks for us, you have to boot it at cross walks, or they will just run into you.  We were all pleased to see about half a dozen 7-11’s just around our place.  We checked out the local’s market for dinner, but didn’t find a single thing that looked appetizing to us.  Raw fish and meat in the indoor market in 30 degree weather smelt very strong, and there were cats running around everywhere.  I didn’t know what any of the cooked food was, expect for the meat that still had heads on them (chickens and fish all cooked up).   So we decided to hit up the hotel restaurant that posted that they had American food.  We all ordered the hamburger and it was not very good at all.  All we could taste was butter, both sides of the bun was heavily buttered, oh and the patty was very pink inside, definitely not cooked enough.  Also, the cabby at the hotel keeps bugging us to take us places for very expensive prices.  Both times we went to 7-11, he asked us where we were going, and tried to convince us to get a ride somewhere else.  We all agreed that we miss Hong Kong, and hope that the tourist beaches down south are much different.  Also, there is a sign at our hotel saying that if the police fine us for ANYTHING, do not pay on the spot, bring them to the hotel to sort it out.  WEIRD!  Anyhow, we are only here till Tuesday, and plan to hit downtown Bangkok tomorrow.  Then hopefully head down south Tuesday to Puket and Ko Phi Phi area to enjoy some beach time.

Xo

Jade

 

Weekend in Hong Kong

We have spent 2 full days in Hong Kong and it has been very busy and exciting.  There are so many people everywhere that it is very difficult for us to all walk beside each other, we are constantly moving around people.  We stick out like tourists so much here, I am an under dressed, and Kevin and Dustin tower over most people, let alone we are white.  Kevin is definitely the only red head we have seen…so we are bombarded by locals trying to sell us custom tailored suits, and fake Rolex watches on every corner, 50x a day.  There was a guy taller then Kevin, but we saw him move out of the building today, so Kevin reclaimed his status as the tallest.  Yesterday we explored the streets, went to the beautiful Kowloon Park, and took the ferry to Downtown Hong Kong.  The ferry runs every 10 minutes, is only 10 minutes long, and only costed $2.50 HKD which is like 3o cents CAD.  We went to the IFC Mall, where we saw a cell phones for over $100,000 Canadian, and $50,000 Canadian 85 inch TV.  All the stores were very ritzy so we enjoyed window shopping.  All the electronics are way ahead of North America, you can even get replica iPhones.  We hit up the night market and it was pretty neat, lots of the same stuff, but some really good deals.

Today we took the ferry back to Downtown, and took the tram that goes straight up a steep hill to the Peak, a beautiful view of downtown Hong Kong.  The ride is so steep that you ride backwards on the way down so you don’t fall forward.

We have yet to eat any authentic food, or anything close.  We had McDonalds yesterday and today, Kraze Burger for dinner last night, and Pizza Hut tonight.  Although all of them have very authentic versions of their pizza or burgers.  At McDonalds, instead of an Apple Pie, they have a Red Bean Pie!!! looks just like a apple pie tho.   Oh, and Dustin won a $50 Gift card to Oregon Scientific on his McDonalds Monopoly pull!  But I just looked it up and we have to be a Hong Kong resident to claim it.

Heading to Jade Street now where they sell tons of Jade.  We fly out tomorrow morning to Bangkok.  I am so glad we did the Hong Kong lay over.  This has been so fun.  I would love to come back when I am not backpacking to go shopping!

xo

Jade

P.S. Forgot to mention the streets!  Cars have the right away and you have to be very aware when crossing the streets.  Buses, taxi’s and cars don’t even break if you are in the way, they just honk.  There are even signs saying watch for traffic.  The hardest part was that they drive on the left hand side of the road so everytime we went to cross a street we looked the wrong way!!!! Sometimes you cross to the center of the busy street and then buses fly by you until you can cross the other side, and your in the middle.  You really have to keep your head up, Dustin pulled me from walking in front of a big bus the first day.

Also, there pop is SO sweet! I can barely drink it.  They use cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup like our pop. Much better for you I’m sure… but very sweet. Last night I got a Green Tea Sprite, and I couldn’t even finish it, so much sugar.

Flight &Hong Kong Arrival

So we made it to Hong Kong last night!  The flight was nearly 14 hours, but turned out to be pretty fun!  When we checked in at the airport we realized Dustin and my seats were upgraded to the exit row with like 6 feet of foot room infront of us, but kevin was 27 rows ahead of us beside 2 strangers.  We talked to the airport people at our gate to get us closer together, and we realized that other family had been split when they had chosen their seats online together.  They said they would do their best to get us closer, but turned out there was no closer seat for Kevin and the plane was 100% sold out and full.   When we got on the plane we got to Kevin seat and a Thai couple was sitting next to him, we offered them me and Dustins exit seats in exchange for their cramped seats but they couldn’t speak English or understand us and just kept showing us his boarding pass and that he was in the right seat.  We even got the flight attendants to ask him and he tried but he said none of the flight attendants speak Thai.  Our only option was to see who was sitting by me and Dustin, and see if they would give up their roomy spot, the girl said no, I like all the room here, then continued to sit down realizing there was no electrical outlets at our seats and she had to do work so she switched!!! Worked out perfect and all 3 of as sat together and steatched out legs out.  Air Canada is sweet, we had our own fold out touch screen tv`s to watch movies and tv shows on for 14 hours straight, and they fed us what felt like every 2 hours!   14 hours of movies and food, was pretty fun! None of us slept at all!

We landed in Hong Kong at 5:00pm Hong Kong time, which was like 1:00 am in the morning home time. so we were all pretty tired, and still had to catch a hour bus to our hostel.  The bus ride was amazing, so beautiful, and Hong Kong was all lit up.  It was dark in the sky, but so bright on the streets from all the signs and buildings, people were EVERYWHERE.  The transit bus even had WIFI! So Kev connected on his phone and used his GPS to let us know when to get off the bus.  He said it was the fastest WIFI he has ever picked up on his phone, even faster than his house.   When we got to our stop we were bombarded by hostel people trying to hand us business cards and take us to their hostels, I said we already have a place to stay and they backed off.  However one guy kept persisting at Dustin, and when Dustin looked at his piece of paper, it  said Dustin Carver- Canadian.  So we followed him and he took us to our hostel.  It was pretty weird haha.

The room is small, and the beds are hard, it is a good thing we all brought are own sleeping sheets as there was no top sheets on the beds.  And the bathroom is interesting! it is our private en-suite bathroom, however it is like a boat or trailer bathroom where the whole bathroom becomes the shower. haha.  We went to sleep at 8:00pm Hong Kong time as it was 4:00 am home time and we hadn’t slept since 7:00am.   So here we are wide awake since 6:00am Hong Kong time.  We are about to plan our day, and got some great info and places to go from Kevins mom and Justine Beselt as she used to live here and comes here quite often.

Let you know how today goes!

xo

Jade

Air Canada Flight

Leaving Tomorrow

I cannot believe we are leaving tomorrow!  I am both sick to my stomach nervous, yet excited for the adventure!  Everyones horror stories and tips to staying alive and safe are starting to scare me, but I will just have to play it smart and stick close to the guys (Dustin and Kevin).  We took the ferry over today and caught the bus to our hotel.  As soon as Dustin saw the street we are supposed to get off on, he jumps up and says its our stop. We all run off, thank the bus driver, get out and realize we are no where near any hotels, but at an intersection surrounded by Asian restaurants, some without English even on the signs.   It’s raining, so Dustin went into 2 restaurants and asked for directions, both sending us waaaay down the busy road we were supposed to stay on.  After a 15 min walk we found the hotel!  And I was too scared to tell the guys that my left hip is killing me.  It has been hurting once in a while when i put my weight on it for the past year or so, but I hope it doesn’t cause problems backpacking lol.  One of those things you totally forget about until it happens.   Well I am really tired and going to sleep.  Looking forward to our free breaky in the AM.

xo Jade