Reset Password
Reset Link Sent
| Blogs > forbackpacking > travel journal |
Thailand week three
|
Thailand week three Thailand week three - Onto Ko Tao Island - wi-fis stopped on computer ( I accidently turned it off) Here I am again in another cheap place , still more expensive than hostels on the main land, around nine pound a night this time I am here for a week . Ko Tao used to be famous for its cheap bungalows and beach huts , oftern made of bamboo but more and more hotels are being built. Just before this I spent one night at a harbour town- Chumphon , I thought that the owner was joking when he said the shower was on the balcony but yes it was, I needed to close the shower curtain tight but I dont think that anyone saw me as it is high up. This hostel had a tv but all the channels where in thai, I watched any way. Cock fighting is interesting for a while but the animal baiting before , not so pleasant So now I know where all the backpackers go, at the hostel there where five British travelers, we shared a bus and the boat to the Island, three<b> teenagers </font></b>doing the same as me traveling south and a couple , for a holiday. Alot of people seem to go straight from Bangkok via train to get to these Islands. Unlike the place at Bang Krut which was a wooden shack with gaps between the slats, this is a concrete bungalow and I will probably use this toilet, no insects yet, there is a mesh wire around the windows but from what I read the eastern side of Thailand is not supposed to have mosquitoes carrying malaria. Again ( my choice) I am in a place with no tv , or wi-fi but a good sea view the website said quiet ( apart from the birds) so there are few distractions. The person running the resort is called Mot and is a friendly lady I am not too concerned in not being in a more modern resort, I have my paints and a good view. Again this is a small place I am quite high up, the Island is in the shape of a turtle and thats what Tao means in english turtle. There are dogs here like the other resort and I have been warned not to leave clothes on the washing line or shoes outside as the dogs will run off with them, small places like this do have character maybe somewhere bigger would be less distinctive. Its the first time I have had to use my own towel and theres no hot water prehaps a larger resort with more amenities to entertain can in a way exclude interaction . On the way to the boat I had jam sandwiches ( for lunch and dinner , I needed to use the bread up) there are few dairy products on sale because of the heat which means no decent chocolate and I have looked every where for honey , cant find any , must be bees here. The Island is twenty kilometres square so I feel confident that I can walk much of the southern part which is were I am , I hear what sound like monkeys but I cant see them , while walking the roads , because there are no noticable paths every one uses motorbikes or four by fours, there is wiring following the roads and you can hear the crackle of elecricity plus the crickets sound together. I later found out that there are some monkeys but they are kept as pets many trained to climb trees to collect coconuts or other fruits , again lots of families selling what they have grown on streets, there is a mango and papaya trees in this resort. **There are plenty of what I would call bums or hippies ( artists) who are the type of people to come here looking for an easier life, away from western oppression , I have already heard how we are`nt free in Europe too much policy making , prehaps a little too free here - although I like the fact that dogs roam free not stuck in a house all day with brief excersices out side- there are things to be said about buddism and other relgions here how it has developed, customs acclimatised to this area not drinking alcohol , too hot , taking off shoes before entering a place , germs are I think harder to maintain , again the heat, but it is the freeness with sexuality which can be a draw here, where as some western religions seem prudish, there is a general development for its youth towards modesty , but sex is sex natural not something to be ashamed of . So maybe it is a certain type of tourist that originally took advantage of the good nature of the Thais and thuce they have adapted to take advantage of the opportunities tourism offer, a taxi driver the other day wanted a twenty dollar tip , bloody Americans and tips , we dont do that in the uk, Just blame the Americans ( I dont think I`m going there) ** On the first night here there was something honking on the roof , I am one of the higher of the bungalows so the better place for all the animals to call from (morning and night), it did sound like a large goose but I was too tired to go out and see, I like most of the animals I see but I am not too sure of the giant centipedes and I`ve kept my distance , its another hard mattress there was only one place so far it has `nt been , this one is on a concrete platform but I slept ok. It has been quiet for most of the time the animals become apart of the background noise but that is untill the rain came and the frogs started . Ko Tao like many populair destinations , once its been established how populair it is , has developed fast there are many building sites around , I`d hate to see what it would look like in ten years time, on my walks there are piles of cement bags at the side of the roads and land partially developed or houses under construction with for sale signs already up. But its still large enough to find isolated beaches and then there are jungle walks to walk up the mountains . I am still buying bits and pieces for the journey ahead, I origianally wanted just one bag, like I`ve seen others carrying but the paints and canvas` take up space, I now have a kettle giving up temporarily on finding gas for a camping cooker, so I should save money on drinks and theses always planty of freeze dried foods, pot noodle again for lunch, I hope that is all my equipment stocked and from now on the money goes towards food and accomodation. It has already been useful to do my laundry with. Mot , the person who runs this place was able to tell me a little about everyone here , many other artists staying here , but the whole place needs a bit of maintenaince , so far no insect bites but its good to see someone who is in the right vocation , Mot clearly likes to get to know people and to cook and be a hostess, it can seem like an easy option to open up a small hotel or hostel and just sit at the front all day - like some places I have been to. Mot used to be an accountant but now shes doing what shes always wanted to. I took out 5,000 from an atm today and it said I have 120,000 in the bank this is bal , the currency here, so it can become easy to be complacent and spend more than I would back home I will have to review my online accounts soon. I am sharing my room with a little lizard which is ok as its getting any stray insects, the appeal of here is becoming more evident and I am hearing various stories of someone traveling but they come here and stay, all the beaches are white sand and turquiose water, and instead of having to travel -the world comes here , there are so many different nations represented and many small communities. Here I am on the side of a mountain and this bungalow is perfect for painting a tiled floor a sink and much floor space in a week I`ve done five paintings so far and of course the paints dry quickly , in the evening there are larger lizards with red spots that cling onto the outside walls and much like the smaller resort that I went to , its not too crowded and easier to meet others , this one is full, the others have also come for the view, a bbq was organised for the monday, there is a man from southend whos been traveling ,John< full of tall tales, and some conspiracy theories about how a type of big brother is in charge in Britain, also he said he cured his father of cancer with maple syrup and bicarb he said in england he grows weed that how he gets all his money , I think I believed him about that , but all he seems to do and hes not the only one here is drink all day long and scupadive with no purpose or direction. As for the others theres Erica from Brazil whos an artist , sonny from Japan , two women from argentina one a fashion designer and so far I`ve meet many French people here , Bruno lives here and is a diving instructor this is how I kind of imaged traveling but its still not the high season here. and two more french pairs have stayed while I`ve been here , although most are here for three to four days as they have to travel from Bangkok on there limited holiday time ok so I need to add some kind of erotic thing as this is Affairlook at in my mid thirties I love the idea of sleeping with younger women so traveling there are many , many<b> teenagers </font></b>and young women I chat with these French women and invite them to my room to see my paintings,but thats it they then want to be alone - I did say I wanted this to be realistic when I first started writing and did meet women later on. There are concrete roads which have been made through the Island , much of which is forest and mountains so i have something to walk on, most who come here hire a motorbike, it is possible to walk but its still hot and humid For some of the days here it has rained heavily, and we all stayed in the restaurant area ( a cement platform with a roof) all the views are great, mostly in the evening I have been staying there in the company of others , those who have motorbikes go into town other wise we stay up and talk, there are no street lights so I dont walk too far after dark . On the last night there Mot asked me if I would like to go to a Japanese resturant with her and her father , she said she oftern invited her guests for an evening out, in Thailand hospitality and curtosy are learned in religion and up bringing, so I went on the back of her fathers motorbike , who like many people here he looks younger than he probably is , so possible around seventy and a safe good driver, practically everyone uses motorbikes you will see families going to school in the morning or riding around sometimes three on a bike. I suspect that if I wanted to they would have let me hire a bike with out any proof that I could drive, another thing is that not many wear helmets , so it was a little scary at first going up and down these steep roads but as I have written - good driver. The restaurant was small but the food was very good, seafood and lots of sesame and wasabi , again animals here two pet cats came to join us one sat in a vacant seat, not something that would happen in Britain, these seats are really cushions on the floor a traditional Japanese style room with the short tables so you have to sit crossed legged. When I came back to the main land I was really quite confused as if I was in another country, it made such a difference to be with many other travelers and one week was not enough to stay and explore Ko Tao and I think I will have to go back one day, the last days I walked and found small isolated beaches with resturants made out of drft wood right up next to the shore so you could look down into the waves. next I will be moving from town to town staying only shortly and then into Malaysia, this is the part of the journey I am not too sure about but from what I`ve read it seems simple just to board a train to cross the border |
Become a member to create a blog
