On Thursday the 5th January my friend Tiina arrived in Phuket. She was coming for 2 weeks and the plan was rather open. Either stay in Thailand, or take a cheap flight somewhere else in the south-east Asia. First few days, though, we agreed to chill by the pool around Patong Beach. Here is a picture of our pool. (ja Pitkäsen jalat).
The first few days were so relaxed I wasn't sure I knew were possible. The mornings were spent by the pool with very minimal conversation, along the lines of "Shall we have a milkshake", "I am so damn hot. Are you", "Can you put some sunblock on my back, please". In the afternoon we would go for some nice lunch, relax by the hotel, do shopping, go for Starbucks Frappuccino's, dinners and some drinks at the crazy Bangla road.
I think Tiina had some fears that I would be running around the town like a headless chicken, forcing her to do every possible activity available. But well, in my 3 months of freedom I have actually learnt to enjoy to do bugger all. Actually, I rather love it. I was a little afraid that I would have to go out drinking every night. But that wasn't the case either. And also, being on a budjet, I was afraid that I would have to hold back too much and stay on the beach drinking cheap cans of beer and beg for money. But we found a common ground. So can be budjet and still have style. See?! Here is a picture of a cocktail that I made for Tiina on our 2nd night.
We also decided not to leave Thailand but go somewhere Tiina hasn't been before, the Galf Coast. We decided to book a flight to Koh Samui on Monday the 9th January and stay around there for a week. 4 nights in Patong beach was enough for both of us....as fun as it was.
On Monday we departed the plane to Koh Samui. Our friend Antti had kindly booked a hotel for us, right in the heart of Chaweng in Koh Samui, at Khun Chaweng Resort. Which was such a lovely hotel. There were a few Finnish guys in town, so we taggled along with them for a few great nights out, as well as a great bunch of Dutch & French and Turkish travellers, with whom I had a great night of dancing.
During the days we mainly spent on the beach. There was a nice bar, called the Arc bar, where the played rather nice dance music. Rather loud though. (Yes, I am getting old.) Here are a few pictures of Samui life. I have added a few pictures of one of the best Pad Thai's in the pictures. This is especially for Eskobar - I hope you are reading this! :)
We decided to go to Koh Tao for a few days, which was only a few hours boat ride away. I had heard raving reviews of the place from friends who had been before, and there was a friend of a friend, Marko Mertanen, who promised to organise us good accomodation and things to do. Which he did. :) The island was truly beautiful. The only unfortunately thing was that it was raining the whole 2 days. With the exception of the first night we got there. We got to meet some lovely people there, including Jo and Nathan. Definitely a place to return...
After 2 nights we returned to Koh Samui for one more night. On our way to dinner we pumped into a friend from home Anton, and his girlfriend, which was a nice surprise!
The next day we spent a few days on the beach (first slightly sunny day for days and I decided to go without sunscreen and got very badly burnt. When does one learn....) and then took a flight back to Phuket. We both agreed that we had now seen Patong Beach and decided to spent a few days in Koh Raya, where our friend Mia was working in a Finnish diving school. Our flight got in late, so there were no more boats to get us to Koh Raya. So we took a taxi to the harbour town and stayed there for one night. The taxi ride was the fastest ride of my ride! (Now there is a double meaning, but I did not mean it here! :) I actually had to ask the driver to go slower and we will pay more. His excuse was that he needed to get back to the airport soon so that we can still take a few more customers. Ok, fair enough then. Speed up then Schumi!
The next morning we got up early to take a speed boat to Raya. Once we got there I was a bit gutted we did not get there earlier, as it was stunning, a true paradise island. Mia showed us around her beautiful new home, afterwhich we relaxed by the beach (surprise, surprise) and had a great lunch.
On the 18th January we had to travel somewhere near the airport, as Tiina was flying to Finland the next day, and myself to Sri Lanka. Unfortunately I got very ill that day with fever and all kinds of nasty stomach problems and spend all day sleeping on the beach, on the speed boat and in the taxi, on our way to a beach near to the airport. In the evening I was luckily well enough for have a lovely romantic dinner by the beach with Tiina. We had an early night and both made our flights the next morning. Such a great two weeks it was! Now I need a relaxing holiday.... :)
