Beaches and Beer

What a tough life I have. Julie and I decided that we needed a 'break', and took a two week 'vacation' to the islands! What a life: Soft white sand beaches, crystal turquoise waters, snorkeling with thousands of fish, BBQ'd fresh fish, $0.30 beers (which of course lead to many story filled nights!), massages for $7 and hour, views that would take your breath away...and all outside of our guesthouses! Jealous? Me too, I want to go back!!

We're in Bangkok right now, visiting our friends Jamie and Sarah who are on a 2 year teaching contract. It's been nice to stay with them, and take advantage of a living room, TV, computer and being with old friends!! Julie and i have seemingly both gained a few pounds these past few weeks, living it up in the islands and indulging in the wondrous McDonald's Delivery in Bangkok!

After Sipidan (snorkeling with Sea Turtles!), Julie and took a 12 hour overnight bus back to Kota Kinabalu. The bus ride was interesting, with the stares and giggles of the teenage boys in front of us was, the cramped seats (our knees were aching after only 1 hour) and the flat bus tire. With no sleep, we tried to kill time (12 hours) walking around KK in the rain, calling our parents and boyfriends and sitting at Burger King writing in our journals for 4 hours....finally, it was time to head to the airport. Our flight to Kuala Lumpur was quick, only 2 hours. It was the additional 8 hour wait for our NEXT flight that killed us. By the 34th hour of travel, we were delirious, laughing uncontrollably, people watching and nicknaming, and trying to name all of the countries of the world. 197 countries, we got 141....not too bad! We both fell asleep at 4am (on top of our luggage) only to be woken up by a bustling airport...with many locals staring at these two white girls passed out!
Finally, we arrived on Langkowi Island (North West Malaysia) at 10am. We surprised our German brothers, and then i spent the day in and out of the most glorious "nap" outside, listening to the ocean and dreaming I was actually partaking in the beach activities around me! By 6pm, I was good to go! We stayed on Langkowi for 4 days, enjoying the sun, reading our books and fighting to stay above water with the massive waves. Julie and I took advantage of the Duty Free Island, and enjoyed our share of TIGER Beers! On our second to last day (Halloween), our German Brothers and us rented scooters for the day to tour the island. Julie took the first stab at our scooter while I rode with Bill. She was a little stressed, so I took over...and had an interesting day. (We won't tell my mom that I may or may not have spun out of control.) It was a lot of fun, but would have been much more so if the boys didn't want to speed the entire time! Eventually I gave up on trying to keep up with them, and just enjoyed myself. We visited 2 beautiful beaches...absolutely breathtaking. And finished the day off at a night with too many food stalls to choose from!! (this would be about the day that i started gaining weight). That night, to our dismay, the island was quiet with no parties. Julie and I sulked in our beers, it being the first Halloween in 23 years that we didn't celebrate!

Saying goodbye to our German Brothers, we left Malaysia and crossed the Southern Border into Thailand. Our first stop was Krabi. We didn't' arrive until 1am, but were up early to do a Sea Kayak and Elephant Trek!! The Sea Kayaking was a lot of fun...and obviously the first thing that comes out of our mouths is "Do you think we can take them?" in reference to a Swedish Couple in our tour group....the Phys Ed competitiveness never dies! We paddled through incredible Mangroves. Narrow canals, surrounded by huge foliage cliffs. We were followed the whole time by monkeys, who were looking for food....and jumped on our Kayaks (to my terror and julies laughs) to see what we had to offer. The mangroves snakes around through a maze of beauty...I paddled and Jules took pictures and played with the monkeys! We paddled back to the pier for lunch, and enjoyed delicious Thai Food!

After lunch we drove for an hour to the Elephant Farm. These elephants were taken from the city into rehabilitation. They were free to roam and bathe and eat whatever they could. What beautiful animals. They were Massive, but had the most darling features- big brown sad eyes, flapping ears and huge trunks. Julie and i rode together on a wooden seat on the back of a 45 year old female (the 'wise' one of the group), along with our elephants keeper who rode on her neck. We enjoyed the plantation at a slow and steady pace. Their ears flapped the whole time, (like Dumbo!) but really because of the mosquito's. After a little while, our guide used the elephants trunk as a stepping stone, and got off telling me to take his place on her neck. It was amazing! Her skin was so rough with thick hair and her ears were in a continuous flap against my legs!! Jules and I switched spots, and Julie lead our Elephant back. After our walk, we fed her banana's which she graciously accepted either with her mouth or trunk. We then walked her over to the river where she bathed. They are such graceful animals...i want one!!!

After a long nap, we enjoyed a night out! We ordered our first 'Bucket', a famous way of drinking in Thailand. Basically a sand pail with a mickey of vodka, Red Bull and Juice or Pop...and 2 straws! We had a lot of fun, meeting an Irish guy and another guy from Bask Country. In the morning, feeling HORRIBLE, we took a ferry to Ko Phi Phi. It was a busy, tourist filled islands with a Spring Break Feel. Cobblestone walkways full of hundreds of Dive Shops, Clothes and Jewelry Boutiques, Massage parlours, Internet Cafes, Restaurants and Bars...not bad! The beach was beautiful, with shallow waters and soft white sand. We spent the day in the warm warm water, army crawling our way out and in. And, Bridget Breck (worked with her at the Gate in Banff) and I ran into each other! It was so good to see her and run into someone randomly!
That night, we went our for a delicious BBQ'd meal. The next day, were were up early for a island hopping tour. We took a big speed boat with about 20 others around to 4 different beaches and islands and snorkeling spots. The most amazing thing we saw that day was Maya Beach, the beach where they filmed the movie "The Beach" on. It looked exactly the same, intense rock cliffs, enclosing the turquoise waters and small white sand beach. Unfortunately, it was busy with tourists...I guess that's what Hollywood does though. For the rest of the day, we stopped off at other great beaches and snorkeled around the waters. I've become a bit of a snorkel snob...and expect to see sea turtles or sharks...and am not satisfied with millions of gorgeous and different fish that nibble your body as your swim! Our last stop was Monkey Beach, a very small beach with aggressive monkeys that steal your stuff...i stayed in the kayak!

That night was probably my drunkest night on the trip so far (I say that because of the dozens of pictures Julie has of me dancing, with a bucket in my hand and a hat on my head, that I can't remember!) Oh well, I seemed to be having fun!! We woke up the next day, and relaxed on the beach. We pampered ourselves with Massages that night, pizza and beer for dinner and many more beers again! We went to a Musical Festival, where I danced in the sand all night until they stopped playing....loved it! The night didn't end that well though, well, not for Julie anyways. She walked me home to bed, and then went back to the beach festival (where we had met some people). I brushed my teeth, made sure the door was unlocked (b/c i forgot to give her the key, and didn't want to pass out and lock her out) and got into bed. Apparently though, I didn't actually unlock the door. When Julie got home, she POUNDED on the door and screamed my name...and I didn't wake up. She only stopped when a guy came out of his room yelling at her to shut-up. They had a screaming match and julie ended up sleeping on the balcony outside our door...on my damp towel with her purse as a pillow. At 7am, i still wouldn't wake up, so the Hostel Manager had to let her in. When i finally woke up at 10, she told me...I felt sooo bad! I almost had my best friend beaten up! She was really good about it...but I'm still not 100% forgiven (i receive a +1% when i do something really nice or make her laugh or something....i think I might be at 45% right now!)

Anyways, we spent the day similar to our previous days, and then caught a ferry to Raleigh Beach, about an hour away. This Beach (main land, but only accessible by water) was much more low key, and if possible, even more beautiful than any of the other beaches we'd been too!!! We decided to Treat ourselves to 2 nights at a Resort, for $12 per night. It was beautiful with a pool and beautiful foliage. The next 2 days, we relaxed, swam, drank, ate amazing food, had a manicure (yes...I have nails!), had a Beach Beer drinking Day (starting at 12, ending for a nap at 5), and continuing on into the evening!
So all in all, we've had the best 2 weeks, relaxing from our ever so tough lives! We're now in Bangkok with Sarah and Jamie where we've just had a wonderful 4 days hanging out shopping, touring the temples and watching an entire season of The Office! Saturday, we went to see where Jamie and Sarah work, as their school was throwing the BIGGEST school Fair I've ever been too. It was unlike any fair we get back home. Beer Tents, dozens of food tents, stage performances....and our favourite, watching Jamie and Sarah in the Dunk Tank! On Sunday, we went to the weekend market, which is basically a hot, busy, cluttered and confusing Maze...but with a mixture of Thai Culture and Western Knock-offs. My bargaining is getting better....although I still find it easier (and less heart wrenching) to give them their asking price...lucky for me, Julie is always around and helps me out! We visited the Night Market Monday night, which was much smaller, but still intimidatingly crowded. So for the Non-Shopper...i did good and actually enjoyed myself quite a bit!
We went to a Pub Quiz last night which was tons of fun with amazing Beer, Huge Burgers and fries...that was our last night of our binge drinking and unhealthy (but delicious!) food....well, we'll see.

Today we're off to Chang Mai, Northern Thailand. We catch our overnight Train (with sleeping cabins!) at 730pm and will arrive at 930am. Today is exactly one month away from the end of my South East Asia adventures...and still so much to see and do. I hope everyone is doing well and keeping out of trouble!