We all turn up to breakfast in Christmas hats of various designs. Even the staff are wearing them. After breakfast the Gilveys walk to pick up the truck where we left it last night and drive off into Thongsala. While they are there they have a roast lunch each at the soho bar. While they were gone Celia and I sunbathed and chatted whilst Roger & Mike got engrossed in their books in shade. Had a lovely chat with son James & family who are on holiday in their Florida house. At 1 o’clock it started to rain like crazy, stair rods, then the wind started. This lasted over two hours but we were glad to get inside with aircon. Both Roger and I fell sound asleep with the French doors open and were abruptly woken but the Gilveys jumping in on us! We shower and get ready for the party that Gary has arranged with the resort staff. He has invited his entire Thai family. We invited a German guy called Volta ( Walter) who has been running along the beach each morning training for the Berlin marathon. We have been cheering him on daily, he is an electrical engineer by profession and very interesting to talk to. We had a wonderful night of fun and chatter & the Thais manage to finish their food and take home all that we can’t manage. All left well fed and merry.
Boxing Day 29c.
I catch up on my blog whilst Roger continues his read his kindle. Mike & Celia go off for their massage along the beach. Gary Jooles and Logan hire canoes for a couple of hours. Aspen grabs grandad and they go next door to Ping’s bar as Aspen fancies some fried rice. Roger says they had a lovely chat about her uni course and she mentions she so far prefers working in Cardiology. We all go to the Flipflop bar for cocktails and silly hour. I have the Burmese meatballs and warm cashew nuts, with a fabulous cocktail containing ginger, chilli, lemongrass vodka and Cointreau. In the evening Gary drives us all in the truck to an Italian restaurant in Thong Nai Pan where we all enjoyed their homemade pasta washed down with Pinot Grigio and Barolo. Home and bed by 10.30pm. Both Joolia and I have our backs bitten badly by sandfly’s. Extremely itchy we try applying everything possible from the pharmacy which Joolia can recognise. I end up smothering myself in Thai talc which is particularly cooling – it also helps arthritis in my ankle.
Monday 27th December. 29c Hot & Humid.
Today the Hamlins join Roger and I on a day trip to Koh Samui to see Robin. I have arranged the trip on a Catamaran from Thom Sala. Gary’s friends sister Ann drives us in her taxi from our reception the 30 minutes drive to the port of Thom Sala where we check in for the Catamaran. The journey over extremely hilly roads where we spot elephants working in a timber yard and we are soon in the extremely busy port of Koh Samui. The port is full of young backpackers heading for Hadrins Full Moon type party on New Year’s Eve. Another relative of Dong’s picks us up at the port for our short ride to Boput. Robin serves us a very welcome coffee each and we meet up with friends from Norwich staying at Robins resort for a few days. Lorraine & Geoff Clinch form the Dog at Ludham in Norfolk. It’s great to catch up with Robin and the state of affairs in his town but with little time to explore Boput we walk along the village, window shopping and stop at the Happy Elephant for a cool beer and delicious salad. We meandered back to Robin’s place in time for our taxi to take us back to the Catamaran. We are surprised to see a smaller boat with three Volvo Penta outboard motors for our return trip but it is faster and we are back on Ko Phangan by 5pm. Ann is waiting for us and drives us back. We ask her to drop us at Thong Nai pan beach and we walk to the shore and settle at tables on the beach to watch the sunset over a couple of bottles of rosé and a light supper. We totally forget we have left our rooms keys with reception and Gun calls us to ask how long we will be as they normally leave off early in the evening. We apologise and tell her to leave them with Gary and we hurry back. Walking back through the town we catch a taxi at our now regular taxi rank which is also a massage parlour, creche, tattoo parlours, bar and restaurant, the drivers all seem to have small children who drive on their laps…. no seatbelts….!!! The Gilveys spent the day at the other side of the island, visit a zoo and then they watch the sunset at the Amsterdam Bar in Thongsala.
Tuesday 28th December. 29c feels like 30c +. Breezy.
After breakfast we all take massages on our deck arranged by Gary. My massage is wonderful but Ju finds my bad ankle and works hard on it. She says in broken English I am blocked and I must breath and relax. Hard when you are in pain. The rest of the massage is great until she tries to pull my arms behind my back and one won’t go. I have bursitis in my right shoulder which I am managing but she finds it!!! She works on my outer arm then proceed to put pressure under my armpit and the pain is unbearable. She ask me to try and stand the pain as she insists she can unblock me and cure it! We will see!, I have booked her again for tomorrow. Gary & Aspen play boomerang on the beach, everyone else is reading. Gary finds a stingray, sadly it’s dead but he quickly puts it back in the sea just in case.
Earlier in the week Gary saw a disturbing sight! A person having a PCR test, the doctor in full hazard gear!!!We are waiting on the outcome.
Roger and Gary go for a quick beer along at Flipflop bar where Roger sees a fish floating ashore. A rather unusual sight he is able to pick it up and takes it to Flipflop where the chef is pleased to take it for the nights menu! At 1 o’clock Gary drive us girls to Thongsala market to find a few shops. These are not shops as we know it back home but little stalls along the roads randomly popping up, so Joolia has to keep a beady eye out for Gary to abruptly stop for us. It starts to rain so we shelter in a food market and try some local cuisine. Joolia did manage to buy a rather lovely beach dress and Logan saw a bracelet that she liked. Although there were several staff in this tiny shop, the owner of the jewellery was not around so they could not find a price and need to go back later. Strange that nothing in the shop was priced! Do they want to sell or not. On the way to Thongsala we stop to take photos of the biggest tree in Thailand. (Allegedly) This evening we go up to the lookout bar to the right of our bay. It’s reached at the dead end of the village, Gary drives us in the truck up the unmade up road to the car park. This place hasn’t changed since we were here three years ago but they obviously have plans to open another deck as a restaurant. Sadly it’s not a clear sunset but we enjoy the view as darkness descends. I am not at all comfortable with heights and am glad to climb down to the first level. We have a variety of drinks, just one each, Roger & Mike pay the bill and we head back down to Thong Nai again for supper. Tonight we dine at the French restaurant which looks the poshest in the area. However this was reflected in the price. Joolia did not want to drink too much so just had one negroni. We settled on a rather lovely light rosé whilst Gary choose to stick with Sauvignon. Sadly this wasn’t very nice so we ordered a second bottle of pink so him Aspen & Logan could enjoy a glass. Having had a snack earlier in Thong Sala market we were not hungry. I opted for two tiny starters, Celia, Joolia, Aspen & Logan had a light meal of prawn carpaccio whilst Roger had the Duck special and Mike & Gary had burgers. Roger, Mike & Celia had deserts, Roger & Celia shared a flambè dessert. Gary was driving so had to watch his booze intake. Mike choose an delicious expensive bottle of desert wine @1400 Baht (£31). The meal and service was superb so was the bill!
Liquid Tales 