First four day weekend since I started working, and I set my sights on the beach. Specifically southern Thailand. I spent one morning of finals week simply crunching numbers in my notebook, just to make sure I had the money to spend to go there and do what I wanted to do. I determined that I did, so Wednesday afternoon, as soon as classes were over, I left to begin my journey to Ko Samui.
I went about it the most stress free way possible, though probably the more irritating way. I bought a overnight bus ticket from a tour group in Ayutthaya. It meant I didn't have to pay for anything other than any food or snacks on my trip, and that I got herded around. Of course I didn't meet the rest of the horde until Bangkok, where there were literally hundreds of foreigners getting the tour bus. It was like a swarm of ants and people being herded. Yuck. I got the last seat on my bus to Ko Samui...right next to a French woman. Of course she was sitting by the window while her husband sat in the row across from her. Which meant I was being talked over quite a bit. I don't like being talked over. But, I had a good book to read.There
The bus ride wasn't bad. We made one pit stop where I got severely ripped off for my cup of yogurt, but had no time to protest because of all the other foreigners milling around. I have this weird thing about traveling...when I'm living somewhere I don't enjoy seeing other foreigners everywhere. I prefer to see actual Thai people. You know, the ones who live in the country.
Anyways, when I finally got to the boat there was some pretty scenery and coastline. I was excited for my ferry across the ocean to the island, but since I was one of the first on there was either indoor seating on top or indoor seating on the bottom. With air conditioning, and crappy windows. Needless to say I was disappointed. There were also a lot of people speaking German for me to eavesdrop on and test my German skills...it is always sort of interesting to listen when other people have no clue that you understand their language.
From the boat it was a nice pretty drive along rocky harbor beach to the area I was staying at, Chaweng Beach. I had quite a ways to walk from where I was dropped off to the hotel...and my energy was rapidly dwindling. Still, it was only noon by the time I arrived. I thought it was later! Anyways, I rested for a bit before setting off in search of the beach. I hadn't been to a beach yet in Thailand and the thoughts 'beach' and 'ocean' and 'swimming' had been driving me for a week or so. Choosing Chaweng Beach had been a calculated mistake on my part. It is a long beach, it is close to the airport, it is supposed to be beautiful. What could go wrong with that?
Resorts. It was a frustrating afternoon. I spent awhile wandering around before I realized that my inner-map was a little off...the beach was the opposite direction of where I thought it was. Even after I figured that it, it took awhile to find a way to get on the beach....because every single little entrance to the beach in my area is controlled by a resort or hotel of some kind. They don't really encourage entering through their resorts. I managed to get on the beach somehow, and I was briefly happy before I decided I wanted to leave the beach and go change into my swimsuit and play in the water. It was on the way back that I truly realized how controlled the beach was. Every place I could find to exit was controlled by a resort with signs saying "Guest use only" or even workers guarding the exits. At the point in time I was getting warm, tired, and frustrated. It made me doubly glad that I had booked a day tour for Friday on my way out to explore.
The exit I finally found to Chaweng Beach was right next to a restaurant but they didn't control it. And it turned out to be a 10-15 minute walk away from the hotel. Well, who knows how long it really was, I never kept track and I made the trek a couple of times after that. I always started out thinking "Oh it's not that far, it's not bad" and ended up thinking "Wow, I underestimated that...it's actually quite a bit.".
At the point I was warm, tired, frustrated and had had enough of the day. So I decided to go shopping. That is one thing the main road in Chaweng was great for, shopping. They had lots of pretty bracelets and bags and dresses and flower carvings. Shopping did bring my mood up a bit, and I spent more money than I needed too. It also started the ball rolling on buying souvenirs for others. Once I get started it's hard to stop. I think of how one person might like something, and then I think of half a dozen others who would like it too. I did practice some restraint though.
After that though, the day was rather bland and I just had dinner before relaxing, watching TV, and going to bed early. I had a tour early the next morning after all! I think I will stop here, however, to keep one post from being overly long. This was only the day I traveled! Of course, I went by myself so much of what I might've said never got to be said, so welcome to my complaining post! Up next the beautiful day at Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan. Maybe including Saturday as well, depending on how much ramble I can contain.
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