Where are we?
To prove there is some culture to Bangkok rather than a Blade Runner-esque freak show we visited Wat Po where there lies the most enourmous Buddaha.
The feet alone are over 4m high, the soles inlaid with mother of pearl.
Afterwards we had a traditional Thai massage as the local massage school. I’m sure my fingers and toes are longer after the pulling and popping they received. It’s like a full workout rather than soothing but you feel amazing afterwards.
Si
decided to sample the Bangkok nightlife with Rachel and her dad, Trevor. The ladyboy cabaret at the Mambo club was hilarious, with some scarily convincing , er, artistes, although there were also a couple of “Nadia from big brother” s…
After that Simon and I explored various bars, where Simon appeared to have gained a Thai bride…. but then she left to go home to her husband.
And in case you thought we forgot, here’s a pretty convincing pair for you Andy P, honestly you’d never know (until it was too late!).
Love you long-time
Si and Olga
…and deer, civet (wild cat), jackal, hornbills, pig-tail monkeys…
Hi all, taken us a while to get these posted but there seem to be so much better things to do than play on t’interweb here! The night ferry over was fun 
met a bunch of scousers (hi Nick, Simon, Dru & Ellie if you stop playing pool long enough to see this) and followed them to Thong Nai Pan Noy 
on the north of the island; a mate of their’s had spent months living here when he ran out of money (hard life, eh). Our hut was in loverly gardens 
and the beach was mostly deserted (it appears that not many people are holidaying in Thailand at the present) and we had room to swing the hammock 
Took a dive trip to a rock in the middle of the South China Sea. Amazing sea life of all varieties but a school of Barracuda perhaps up to 2m in length was a real treat. Midnight dip at the beach revealed bio-luminenscent plankton, like swimming in your own light show! Don will be pleased to know that I hired a 125cc bike then me and the liverpudlian Simon took off for a spin around the island. However the dusty dirt tracks needed my moutainbike skills more than anything else. Somewhat exilerating without any protective gear (no helmets in Thailand). Still in one piece.
Next stop Richard and Rachel’s house in Bangkok.
cheers
Simon
Our second tropical island is even hotter than the first. We are again staying in a beachside hut, made mostly of straw. However we now have ready access to alcohol once more (mekon buckets, oh dear). This may explain why Simon’s first aid skills took a turn for the worse. On finding Olga with a mosquito coil holder embedded in her right foot, I dilligently cleaned and dressed the wound (despite being slightly worse for wear). On inspection next morming a miraculous recovery had taken place, not a scratch to be found, erm, actually the wrong foot had been bandaged.
Pics to come…
love Si and Ol
Staying in Nakhon Si Thammarat for a bit of culture for a couple of days. Our hotel is beautiful, and we even have hot water! Today we went to see one of the biggest temples in Thailand, Wat Phra Mahathat, and sat and watched as 6 new monks were inaugurated.
The building is meant to be over 1000 years old, and has a giant golden Buddha inside.
Our Thai is improving, we can now say chicken, rice, and thank you!
love Si and Olga
Hi all,
Couldn’t post from Flora Bay because their internet connection was so flakey. No internet and you’re REALLY cut off from the world!! Here’s some pics…
Here you see Olga with Lee her PADI Dive Instructer after Olga completed her Open Water course. Then a view of our front garden from the bungalow. You see the lord of the manor. Plus a monkey off to get his coconuts!
Hi to all on Perhentian Besar if you are reading this, esp. Juju and Azman, Lee, Beth, David & Janet, Michael, Ravi & Amber, Hari, Marc, Dalton, Ben, Sharul & Amy and of course Zimani! Thank you all and hopefully we will be back in years to come.
love Simon and Olga
Having a fab time in our beachside bungalow on our tropical island – will post photos when t’internet’s faster. I have passed my PADI open water course, and we are going to do some more tomorrow so Simon can get his Advanced cert. Deep diving and buoyancy – ooer. I have seen a shark (i heeded dads words of wisdom to watch out for sharks!) and some turtles, some rays,and all sorts of fish. And a snake! The island is gorgeous (Perhentian Besar if you have a map) and we have put up our mexican hammock between two palm trees just outside our house. Simon’s dad was right Nasi Goreng is the best fried rice in the world. The one drawback is the lack of beer on the island, you have to bring your own or befriend the right people (we did)!
Olga
xxx
