Summer Spring Hotel Chon Buri

... up with other CIEEers. Erica (my roommate from orientation) and the people she lives with traveled a few hours to come hang out with us too which was great!  It was very hot, but luckily the beach had nice reclining chairs with huge umbrellas so the sun was blocked.  The water was pretty gross but we enjoyed the sunset and each others company. After being at the beach for a while we went to get dinner, then onto the bar ...

... lack of those o-so-stressful 'standards' of efficiency. I can hardly claim to be a model of efficiency based on my current life's portfolio of experiences. Still.... I have to leave the bloody country again and apply for this visa in Laos on my own because it didn't get taken care of here... aaaaaaaaarrrrggghhhh... The visa laws here are apparently quite fluid and change often; typically after some ...

... for over an hour and a half looking at one after the other of the many buildings or statues that populated the palace grounds. The entire area was maintained by people that still believed in the religious and historical importance of the site. Although the King no longer resided in the Grand Place it was still the site of His official ceremonies. From the palace we would walk thru a gauntlet of sellers of everything from postcards to umbrellas to small purses. Harriet bought ...

I woke up with a surprisingly clear head but with a conviction that there had been some sort of electrical storm in the night. It sounded like a roll of thunder which never really got to the final bang. I was probably dreaming it,but no, we could hear it in the morning occassionally echoeing across the island. Wierd! After a hearty meal of scrambled eggs, copious amounts of black coffee and banana pancakes we made our way into the ...

... my drunken state i was trying to decide if I could take on the tiger in a fight. Luckerly this was never tested as we had only booked for the market (But i reckon i would have won). Floating market was pants, like leeds indoor market but on sewers. The tour guide said we would be in a James Bond boat, but i dont recall James Bond being sat in a boat which was on the verge of sinken every time he made the slightest movement and him being **** wet through by the end of the trip. So ...

... of the students. And it is amazing that they can communicate with one another and with native speakers and be understood. From the standpoint of a teacher, however, it is a nightmare. It is maddening to spend an hour going through a basic grammar lesson, such as the correct usage of "and' and 'or', only to have them exit the classroom and begin making the same mistakes. They ...

... efficient and it took only 20 minutes to get to the markets. It was great there. They were buzzing with people, Tuk Tuks, stalls and loads of places to eat. Everything there was even cheaper than in Phuket. We bought a few bits and pieces then decided to go home before we got too much. We didn't realise but the subway closes at 11.30 and it was 11.45. We asked a few taxis how much to get home but they were all rip off's so we got a Tuk Tuk. Well after a few near brushes with death, half ...

... one she liked. Of course she picked out a very expensive one (remember this is just a test). I then asked the clerk to see a much cheaper one, which she showed me. I told my date that the cheap watches were not any good. We then looked at medium-price watches and she found one she liked and made the purchase. Now here is the lesson in all this. If a Thai girl convinces you to make an expensive purchase when it is not necessary, she thinks you spend way too much money. If ...

I arrived in Bangkok on Saturday night the plane landed at about 7pm. I got an airport bus to a place in Bangkok called Banglamphu which is where many of the cheap hotels are and is the main tourist and backpacker area in Bangkok. The England game was well under way by the time I got here and but I saw the 2nd half on a big screen at an open air cafe set up just for the world cup. These last few ...

... and relutantly prepared for my return to Bangkok. I want more of Chiang Mai and plan on returning to further explore the beautiful north! After travelling back on sleeper train - an interesting experience hovering on the squat toilets as you can see the tracks below HAHA! The wee hours of the morning were greeted by the usual barrage of tuk-tuk drivers vying for your business - but I'm now a veteren in that area! Had a quick shower and thought ...