CHATTERBOX: Remembering Thailand

Everyone loves Thailand. I have yet to meet someone who returned from a Thailand trip and didn't have a blast. The food was good, things were cheap cheap, the weather was awesome... the trip was just AMAZING!! I went with 5 buddies to Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao (day trip), Phi Phi and Phuket. We ended the trip in Malaysia (Penang, Langkawi and KL) all in 17 days .. wait for it... for under R15 000.

Bangkok..hhhmm..at first it's just a messy, smelly city with way too many food stalls on the side of the road...but one ride in a tuk-tuk changed my view completely. Yeeeehaaaaa.....those tuk-tuk drivers speed through the heaviest traffic ...ok.. maybe it wasn't "yeehaa" for me but the thrill of being frightened was flippin cool!

Tuk-tukking around Bangkok..weeee


Pretty places all around :-)

Pattaya...well.... can somebody say HO!! hahaha. It's a red light district of note! Wasn't my favourite place but it had cheap watersports (that we didn't try coz we thought all the islands would have it anyway... and then it was like triple the price on the islands...FAIL). We got to explore the place on scooter though...that was pretty cool.


Go go bars and other "fun" stops


Locals...hehehe

We fell in love with Koh Samui. The candle-lit dinners on the beach, the cheap markets, the vibe, the elephant safari, the massages, just everything. Our accommodation was very basic but sufficient..and right on the beach. The kids were a bit annoying selling their lighters, handmade leis and other random stuff. We stayed on Chaweng Beach...and never wanted to leave. I'm a pasta lover - and the prawn pasta dishes they were serving up for something like 30 bucks was oohhhh sooo good. With about 12 prawns in..compared to the 4 to 5 you get in your dish here in Cape Town. The whole beach buzzes all day long from breakfast time (also right next to the water) till supper time...and then into the wee hours of the morning. I miss the island life.

Shopping shopping..yay!!!

Beeeg beeeg ones!!! mmm

My yummy prawn pasta

Koh Samui made me fulfill one of my must-do Thailand dreams... to take a pic with an IGUANA...I did it..whoop whoop - look at meeee, look at meeeee....


HIGH FIVE for me!!! :-)

I had some pics taken with an eagle and some sort of monkey as well but nothing can beat Iggy! The elephant Safari was pretty cool too...well, the safari itself was B.U.M.P.Y but overall it was ..ok ok, it was boring - haahahha. Glad I tried it out though - quite an experience. Check me out, check me out..again...hehehe..

Not the brightest idea

After Koh Samui we popped in at Koh Phangan and Koh Tao... snorkel, snorkel, fun, sun. Snorkel snorkel, fun sun.. Koh Phangan..unless there's a full moon party happening, it's not really a must-see. but it was fun either way. Koh Tao is a day trip place. Pretty little island with clear waters and pretty little fish.

Snorkelling here we come - Koh Tao

The "love you long time" bucket

I think these buckets speak for themselves

On Phi Phi Island we took advantage of all the day trips to the various little non-residential islands like Monkey Island..and that island that Leo stays on in the movie The Beach..and I forgot the other islands' names.

bloob bloob bloob

One of the not-so-appetising meals on Phi Phi Island

The good life :-)


I'm just chillin' like a villain. Let the boys do the work

Phuket's loads of fun with all its activities and shops and vibrant nightlife. The place really has something for everyone. We stayed in Patong near BangLa Lane. If you like the lady-boys ...this road's for you :-) The water sports were pricey but we just forked out the dough to do some parasailing... when will I ever do that again..right? We went to check out the FantaSea show.. pricey but included an all-you-can-eat buffet. Still expensive though. Was worth it.

We celebrated the new year in Phuket. It was the most beautiful thing. Thousands of candle-lit paper lanterns are sent floating in the sky and they look soooo pwurdddddy!!! You look up and see all these little lights just floating into nothingness. I can't explain it. You just have to go.