Overnight trains, internal flights and islands

Trip Start Nov 26, 2007
1
15
17
Trip End Mar 01, 2009


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Where I stayed
cochut village
thongbay guesthouse, vientiane
vang vieng organic farm
(Ko Phangan hotels)

Flag of Thailand  ,
Monday, March 10, 2008

Our teaching is now over and we have travelled our way down to the islands in the south of Thailand.  We loved teaching the kids in Vang Vieng, they were so eager to learn and it was sad to say goodbye even though we were only there for a week.  It was strange at first as we were told to do our first lesson on the past tense... so in we went with a full lesson plan, celta course planted (and coming back to us slowely) in our head... except the students didnt know what 'morning, yesterday and last week' meant; hhhmm interesting.  We scraped what we were told to do and taught them the times of day and what 'did you have a good evening?' meant.  All in all it was really rewarding and seeing the kids - all 100 - of them running behind the tuktuk as we waved goodbye for the day will stay with us for a long time.  We didnt teach all 100 -there were a few different classes!

The other great part about staying on the farm was the goats... they had 5 new born baby goats.  They are now offically my favourite animal, they were the cutest little things in the world.  We fed them most days - well me more than Jonathan if im honest another goat
another goat
 !  They had to be bottle fed and one day when i was in there on my own, one (the littlest one - Billy!) fell asleep on my lap!!  So it was not only sad to say goodbye to the human kids but the goat kids too.  Dont worry though, we didnt leave before another eventful day of tubing down the river, with Jonathan loosing another pair of sunglasses - by Jonny throwing them down to him and them falling in the water!  - you cant see through that water!!  That'll be about 10 pairs of glasses between us by now!

Anyway we set off from VangVieng for Vientiane, the capitol of Loas.  We were warned that theres not much there, and it was pretty much true.  A great curry later - yes, they even have indian restaurants in Loas!= and we were on an overnight train to Bangkok.  We left it a bit late to book our seats so there were only first class cabins left.  But, it was great, unfortunately Jonathan didnt sleep too well, even after 5 beers, but i didnt have too much problem.  It was quite strange though, but really cool.. the guy comes in and makes your seat into a bunk bed and you sleep away most of the journey.

We got off the train a bit weary eyed and headed to a tailors where they measured us up and we chose our suits.  Its very exciting, although ive made lots for others, ive not had much made for myself and i dont think ive even worn a suit before so im looking forward to picking it up. 

We then had the choice to get on another overnight train, a bus and then a ferry to Ko Samui or Phuket, or get a plane.  Im afraid we took the easy route after one night on a train and took the plane. 

However, we werent overly impressed that it was raining as we touched down baby goats!
baby goats!
 !  Never mind i thought. its probably just a short shower.... It has rained for the first 5 days of our 'sunbathing' time - not so good when you only have 10.  But dont fret, we are loving every minute of sunshine and we are getting our tan back slowly but surely before the cold of Tokyo that will be hitting us soon.

But, before that bit of news... I have done a silver workshop since ive been on Ko Phangan... oh, we hopped from Ko Samui where we landed to Ko Phangan as Ko Samui wasnt great and very overcrowded from tourists, its much better here!  So the silver workshop i did on Sunday was great.  a guy called Yot taught me who has 2 shops, one in the capitol of the island; Thong Sala and one in Haad Rin (where the full moon party is held and where we stayed for a few days).  He was really good and i learnt loads about silver smithing, something ive always wanted to try.  And, at the end of the day I had made a ring, of which im really proud!  Who knows, maybe ill be a jeweller when i come home?!

So now, we are staying in the North West of the island where its a lot quiter than Haad Rin at a place called Haad Salad (- Haad means beach).  The resort is on the beach and the people here are unbelievably friendly and if we ever come back to this part of the world im sure we'll book this place again oh the goats!
oh the goats!
 .  We have been snorkelling today and it rivals Fii, so its great.

So back to Tokyo.  I have received our new address where we'll be living and we'll be in Ichikawa City which is right next to the main Tokyo district and in the Chiba District.  Apparently its about 30 minutes to Tokyo centre and near to the beach too... although i have no idea how right that all is!

We are getting excited about Japan now and also quite nervous, trying desperately to swot up on our little japanese that we know!  We arrive in Tokyo on the 18th but dont offically start until the 24th so we are hoping to explore and find our way around.

But in the mean time, we are on the island for another day before we head back to Ko Samui and catch a flight back to Bangkok, so id better get back to my sunbathing!!
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