Ko Samet...Hi, Bye

Trip Start Aug 31, 2008
1
14
27
Trip End ??? ??, 2009


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Wednesday, October 22, 2008

After Ko Chang Nadz and I decided to head to Ko Samet.  Once again an easy transfer between islands was expected...Once again it took an entire day.  Still feeling quite sick we arrived on Ko Samet after two bus changes and two ferries.  Having not researched the island we cruised around until we found a place.  Ko Samet is the closest island to Bangkok, which means it is one of the busiest with local Thais.  This then means that one should be booking ahead, which of course we don't do.  So finding a place was not the easiest, and the one we finally found was super rustic and had a shared "bathroom" (really an outhouse). But we had no other options.  By the time we settled in and ate, I was completely bagged so headed to bed.  Well bed turned out to be a piece of plywood covered in a sheet under a large mosquito net.  Now I am a girl who enjoys a firm bed. Not too soft.  Well this was taking it to another level.  But a few gravol later and I am out like a light.  I guess it was the Half Moon party that night, so most other people on the island (Nadz included) did not get much sleep.  Next morning, me still feeling very under the weather, Nadia and I made the decision to say goodbye to the beach and head back to Bangkok.  So we booked our bus ticket and headed back to the mainland.  I know you may be getting sick of the hell bus trip stories....but too bad! Here's another one :)

So we get off the ferry and wait for our "VIP" mini bus to take us to Bangkok.  We ask them how long the trip is and they say 2hours.  We joke with the other travelers that 2hours at least means 3. hahaha.... So our mini bus arrives, and its tiny, and there is no room for luggage...and its raining. Nadia convinces them to go buy a tarp, so at least our luggage will not get soaked, and a half hour later we are on our way.  Things are going smoothly until someone asks to stop for the bathroom and our driver goes up the wrong side of the highway and stops in front of a familiar place. Our old friend...scary yelling bus stop lady from the trip to Ko Chang...yes...so we are forced to eat again and get back on the bus, knowing we are only about an hour away.  Well an hour in distance equals about 3-4 hours in Bangkok traffic.  I will NEVER complain about Vancouver or Victoria traffic again.  It took forever. Roads were blocked (by barbed wire!) and traffic lights were broken....most of our travel companions remained light hearted while one guy began to freak out, making the remainder of the trip stressful.  When we finally arrived at our home away from home (Khao San Rd) our 2 hour trip ended up being about 6.  I have sworn off Thai buses.

So we are back in Bangkok. For way too many days, but thats ok. We have a nice clean room with a comfy bed.  Time for me to recover before the guys get here....and we can try the island thing again!
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