Siam Thara Surat Thani

... the establishment of the Monthon, a former administrative unit, that all three cities were merged into one under the name Chaiya. In 1915, King Rama VI changed the name Chaiya to Surat Thani.


The seal of Surat Thani says a lot about its history. Featuring the pagoda of Phra Boromathat Chaiya, the seal ...

... be a big driving day so after lunch we got straight back on the road heading for where we would spend the next 2 nights - at 'Kao Sok' national park and rain forest. This is meant to be one of the oldest rainforests in the world and is huge! It was a horrible rainy day - torrential rain where we couldn't see even 5 metres infront of us in the car.. so the drive took forever - well about 8 hours!! Nightfall came and we were still driving through this large ...

... into the expanse of the water. It was absolutely stunning, the most beautiful place I've ever been. We eventually arrived a the floating raft houses and had a swim in the lake before lunch. After lunch we went trekking. We had to wade through a few streams and my ...

... You're definitely a tourist here. Our accomodation is cheap and uninspiring but the surroundings are what keeps us here. Laem Son is a quiet place and lays on its own virtually private white sand palm-treed beach called Aow Srithanu. It has to be one of the best beaches because we get day trippers coming here on boats from other parts of the island. Before they are told "Get on the boat" in the manner of a Stormtrooper. Its quite ...

... for the day ahead we got ready and waited for the pick up van to take us to the Hong Islands. A short ride to Nophrathara beach was the boarding point for the Long Tailed boat.In the long tail boat we were soon joined by a silent German photoghrapher, a Thai couple, two young and stocky girls from Canada and two ladies( a mother and dughter from Taiwan). I soon picked up a conversation with the Taiwanese girl, Zheng(her name) who had travelled a lot around the ...

... evening. (when several people tried to report the thief to the operators the acted as though they didn't understand and nothing came of it other than everyone watched their possessions much more carefully). Oddly, I was missing a packet of crackers, my water bottle, and my padlock. Basically, the items that had been in the outer mesh of my bag. (I had taken precautions in storing my bag such that it could not be outright taken or gone through ...

... the inconvenience, we made a hasty retreat and ran out the restaurant in disgrace. Revenge was on the staff though as the next day I suffered and had what I can only describe as "the squids" - I'll leave the rest to your imagination. So its now Tuesday teatime and as we didnt go to the Black Moon Party here on Samui on Sunday, we have decided to go to the Full Moon Party on neighbouring island Koh Pha Ngan tonight. Held once a month ...

... The food was delicious! There was always white rice, lettuce, cucumbers and tea served, but then there was two other main dishes and a dessert that was different everyday. Also I forgot to mention that everything that was served was vegetarian and the tofu (one of my favorite foods) was served in abundance! I was always completely satisfied after eating, putting me in a positive mood for more sweeping. After meditation hall 2 was free from all debris and dust, I would have ...

So that was meeting up with Sarah and saying goodbye again The school for hotel management.....ala fawlty towers. Then buses and boats and rock climbers. Kayaking aroung Korsts and monkeys being fed or passing through the homes on stilts at the back of the island. Ferries were fun and walking the long beach and climbing whilst the bags ...

... travellers working on unhealthy-looking tans. At Ban Don we got a songthaew to town, where we got dropped off round the back of somewhere, the walk meaning we arrived dishevelled again... Minor fall-out at reception when Jem mis-interpreted the lady. She just giggled at the request for a room, since she was nervous at her lack of English. Jem thought she meant ...