Well, a little rumor was passed around that we went missing in Thailand. Apparently, even the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok was alerted. In a way, the reports were accurate, as we've taken up near permanent residence on a few beautiful islands for the past two weeks, with only a brief trip across the peninsula to interrupt our new careers as beach bums. We've also purposefully avoided almost everthing having to do with Thai culture and although I feel guilty, I'm really enjoying doing nothing. Other than that, we are completely safe.
We were on Ko Samui for about a week, with several excursions to neighboring islands, including the debaucherous Full Moon Party on Ko Phangan. As most of you know, I frequent Las Vegas quite often, but Sin City has nothing on this monthly(lunar) beach party. It is an all night dance marathon of 20,000+ naked travellers drinking hard liquor out of little buckets. The locals also get into the festivities, but in a different manner, as we overheard one of the alcoholic bucket salesman yell out "come get drunk so we can steal your money!". To be honest, the electronica/house/trance/techno thing really isn't our scene and we felt sort of voyeuristic pretending to dance and watching all of the Australian backpackers get fitshaced. Unfortunately, we chose not to bring our camera to the party for fear of it getting stolen, so I guess we'll have to apply the "Vegas" rule to the Full Moon Party.
After a week on that side of Thailand, we decided to switch to the Andaman coast, despite a poor weather forecast, to explore Ko Phi Phi. It has been raining off and on since we've been here and to be completely transparent: let's just say Tiny isn't too happy. On the other hand, I haven't noticed the crappy weather, as I've been underwater, scuba diving, for the past 3 days. I think I might even do another day of diving, Tina's wrath permitting.
Oh and there is a smaller island off of the big Ko Phi Phi called Phi Phi Ley, where they filmed the secret beach scene for the movie "The Beach". We haven't been yet, but we have to go because there is a big cave on the island with the birds I discussed in a previous post that make the nests for the bird's nest soup and drink. I'll make sure to take pictures of those little guys.
I also think that they should rename Ko Phi Phi to Cat Island, as unlike the rest of Souteast Asia, there are nearly no dogs and instead there are hundreds of cats roaming the streets. I like cats, so I'm into it, while Tina is missing her wild puppies that she oogles, but never actually touches.
We plan to explore a few more beaches and then head to Bangkok for some urban exploration. There might be a little problem getting into Cambodia now, as there is a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. To sum up the problem: there is a temple complex on the border between the two countries that neither cared about, but UNESCO just randomly made it a World Heritage Site, so now both countries are claiming rights to the area. So, there is a chance we might have to skip Siem Reap/Angkor Wat, if things escalate.
I am going to post this entry now and slowly update it with more of our Vietnam pictures, bandwith permitting. Keep checking for updates!
We were on Ko Samui for about a week, with several excursions to neighboring islands, including the debaucherous Full Moon Party on Ko Phangan. As most of you know, I frequent Las Vegas quite often, but Sin City has nothing on this monthly(lunar) beach party. It is an all night dance marathon of 20,000+ naked travellers drinking hard liquor out of little buckets. The locals also get into the festivities, but in a different manner, as we overheard one of the alcoholic bucket salesman yell out "come get drunk so we can steal your money!". To be honest, the electronica/house/trance/techno thing really isn't our scene and we felt sort of voyeuristic pretending to dance and watching all of the Australian backpackers get fitshaced. Unfortunately, we chose not to bring our camera to the party for fear of it getting stolen, so I guess we'll have to apply the "Vegas" rule to the Full Moon Party.
After a week on that side of Thailand, we decided to switch to the Andaman coast, despite a poor weather forecast, to explore Ko Phi Phi. It has been raining off and on since we've been here and to be completely transparent: let's just say Tiny isn't too happy. On the other hand, I haven't noticed the crappy weather, as I've been underwater, scuba diving, for the past 3 days. I think I might even do another day of diving, Tina's wrath permitting.
Oh and there is a smaller island off of the big Ko Phi Phi called Phi Phi Ley, where they filmed the secret beach scene for the movie "The Beach". We haven't been yet, but we have to go because there is a big cave on the island with the birds I discussed in a previous post that make the nests for the bird's nest soup and drink. I'll make sure to take pictures of those little guys.
I also think that they should rename Ko Phi Phi to Cat Island, as unlike the rest of Souteast Asia, there are nearly no dogs and instead there are hundreds of cats roaming the streets. I like cats, so I'm into it, while Tina is missing her wild puppies that she oogles, but never actually touches.
We plan to explore a few more beaches and then head to Bangkok for some urban exploration. There might be a little problem getting into Cambodia now, as there is a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. To sum up the problem: there is a temple complex on the border between the two countries that neither cared about, but UNESCO just randomly made it a World Heritage Site, so now both countries are claiming rights to the area. So, there is a chance we might have to skip Siem Reap/Angkor Wat, if things escalate.
I am going to post this entry now and slowly update it with more of our Vietnam pictures, bandwith permitting. Keep checking for updates!
Banh Cuon, possibly my favorite Vietnamese dish. It sort of like Vietnamese ravioli filled with pork, covered in vegetables and those little fried shallots and then drenched in fish sauce.
In a previous post, I mentioned the monkey zoo which was more like a human zoo for the monkeys to visit. There were no park rangers or similar Vietnamese equivalents to watch us or the monkeys.
A cute family of monkeys.
2 comments:
Dan and Tina, I certainly have enjoyed reading your blog. It is a nice way to relive some of our travels through SE Asia. It sounds like Cambodia and Thailand are still in discussion over the border temple. I hope that you are able to make the crossing as the Angkor Wat complex is an incredible and very spiritual site to see. Enjoy the rest of your travels.
mann i love bird's nest soup too even IF its made from spit!!! <333
i eat it like once every monthish and used to bought from website hongkong-bird-nest.50webs.com/index_e.htm sometimes, my mom went back to hong kong and bought a full suitcase of it cause its cheaper there XD
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