A Tale of Two Cities

Trip Start Dec 02, 2007
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Trip End Sep 01, 2008


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Friday, July 11, 2008

  As we have approached the end of our stay in each of the countries we have visited so far, we have ordinarily been ready to leave and start the next adventure. Leaving Thailand was no exception in that we were both bored of the beaches (!) and more than ready to take on southern Africa. On this occasion however, saying goodbye to a country also meant saying goodbye to Greg who we had travelled with for over a month, so we were both sad to leave him on Ko Tao and looking forward to a reunion with both him and Chelsea on one side of the Irish Sea or the other before too long.


We bade farewell to Greg, but were still travelling with new friends Ash and Vicki. Together we had bought tickets for an overnight boat to Surannathani from where we would catch a flight to Bangkok. We had not expected the luxury of a cruise liner, however nor had we expected a rickety wooden vessel, with one very large, thin mattress which all 60 western passengers would share for the night (the Thais were subject to even worse conditions in the boat's hull...). Piet and Ash are both tall men even by European standards and before the boat had set sail both had an onset of cabin fever as they wondered how they would manage any sleep. Happily we were all exhausted. As had become something of a theme in South East Asia, we had all had a late night the evening before ensuring our last hours with Greg were memorable. The four of us settled down and I for one was sound asleep before lights out!


Arriving in Suuranthani at 5.30am was a rude awakening, as was being met by a closed airport and only a cold floor on which to settle down and attempt a couple of hours extra sleep before check in- which we managed. A very dodgy flight to Bangkok later we checked in to the relative luxury of the Asia Hotel and ordered room service before an early night. There was, after all shopping to be done the following day.


All four of us had visited Bangkok before so our main objectives of our trip were fulfilled by a trip to Bangkok's huge shopping centres; Piet and I were after essentials for our camping trip in Africa and Ash and Vicki had the rather more exciting prospect of stocking up on cheap 'designer' labels before their flight home. Between spending the last of our bhat and a couple of good meals, we took advantage of the city's cinema complexes and caught up on a few titles.


Another farewell, and Piet and I flew to Hong Kong; my first trip to the city and Piet's second. Unfortunately as we arrived in HK so did think clouds and rain so visiting most of the sights which are there to provide a view of the city was out. We did, however, manage to find a restaurant that our friend Elen had recommended to us and gorge on Peking Duck (much better than it had been in Beijing!) and to see the spectacular lights of the harbour before heading to Jo'burg.
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