Thailand – it did not get the name of “The Land of Smiles” for nothing. (I always thought Siam was a really cool name for a country, but that is probably just me). The Thai people are so friendly that they make it difficult to leave, and I guarantee that once you have experienced Thailand you will always want to go back. The first time I went was for a quick holiday with some mates – one Brit and one Kiwi. After flying (on the cheap) from Heathrow via Bucharest, we caught the overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Surat Thani, then a ferry to Koh Samui and another ferry to Koh Phangan. The Charm Beach Resort was a welcome sight after two days of travelling, and more than a few cold Singhas were enjoyed in hammocks on the beach.
We hired scooters and went everywhere on them, except for the obligatory Full Moon Party on Haad Rin beach when we caught one of the many cheap taxis. The sights, sounds, tastes and smells of a Full Moon party will stay with me for a long time – such a wonderful experience! The party continues through the night with everyone in a mellow party mood, enjoying the music and side-shows like fire-eaters and jugglers – many backpackers seem to have one of these (and other!) talents.
The food in Thailand is tasty, and cheap. I ate at least four full meals every day, rising before my mates to have a quick swim, breakfast and a walk along the beach, and then another breakfast with them when they decided to get up. Late lunch was had wherever we happened to be at the time, followed by a few beers and then supper and yes, more beers. Often I would grab something just before the kitchen closed for the night.
I went back to Thailand almost a year later, specifically to dive. This time I flew from Heathrow via Bahrain to Bangkok, then caught a flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui, followed by the ferry to Koh Phangan. It was much quicker and far less tiring. The diving around Koh Phangan and Koh Tao is pretty good, and I remember seeing turtles, sea snakes, triggerfish, blue-spotted rays and moray eels. The hard corals had been damaged by rough seas from the monsoons and hurricanes but the soft corals are amazing. The local dive operators I used were all brilliant and professional – always comforting to know.
