On the way to krabi

We are now on a mini bus heading for krabi. We left samui this morning
via mini bus then ferry to the mainland. We ran into the usual scam
when we arrived in surat thani and had to change buses. We were told
the bus would not be arriving for 2 hours and they threw in a not so
convincing line about the journey taking 4 hours on the bus anyway so
we had better pay them to take us by mini van. All very amusing.
Anyways we are making our way to krabi slowly.

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Leaving samui

Its raining and it has been for days. Not just normal everyday rain
either. Heavy rain punctuated by Torrential downpours.

Because of this we have decided to abandon samui and this side of
thailand in favour of potentially better weather on the krabi / phuket
side.

Muesli fruit and yogurt and then we hit the road!

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Testing out video embedding from nutv.ca

So recently I have been working on a new webpage for NUTV. It is basically a page for showing all their video content. Below is me testing out one of the new features which allows people to embed the video from nutv.ca in their own blogs or websites.
You can take a look at one of their new shows "Dino_Myte" embedded below if you like.

Jungle Club

We have been staying at the Jungle club resort on Samui for the past couple days, its been raining a lot so almost no beach time so far which is unfortuneate but oh well.

Internet speeds haven't been the greatest so I'm struggling to keep up with uploading my pictures that I've been taking, got a few uploaded today at an internet cafe in Chaweng noi beach.

Mmmm fruit shakes...

Koh Samui

Yesterday we flew from Bangkok to Ko Samui, the largest of 3 islands off the east coast of Thailand near the mainland town of Surat Thani.

We are staying in a pretty nice place up on top of the hills above chaweng noi beach. The view is stunning, they have a pool, one of those ones that has no proper edge where the view is so the water from the pool meets the water of the ocean way in the distance when you are in it. Very nice. We have to get here and back by 4wd which they provide. Food has been delicious.

We slept to a thundering rain storm last night which was awesome to sleep to being that the hut we sleep in is so basic.

I have internet whenever I need it via my phone so I check my email many times per day as usual and I don't need to face my internet addiction ;)

Border Run Part 4, the final chapter

I'm now back at Nonsi residence in Bangkok. Up reaaaally early in the morning to fly to Samui, beaches!!

Border Run Part 3

So this is the 3rd time I've tried to write this post but have been thwarted the previous 2 attempts. 3rd times a charm.

I have just been "processed" at the border and am now back on the bus. A pretty painless process really. 30 mins turn around time I think. Another 4 hours and i'll be back in Bangkok.

It's always a kinda weird feeling to be stared at by locals in a place where you couldn't be more out of place. It's not uncomfortable, not like being a shitey walking around the streets of Harlem, NYC... just weird.

The process of the border run was somewhat interesting in itself too, nothing new for me, I had to do it a few times back in 2003 when I was here last. They have it down to an art also. The company I paid for the service takes you on a bus to the border and ferrys you through the process. You check out of Thailand, check into Cambodia, check out of Cambodia and then check back into Thailand. To make this easier all you actually have to do is check out of thailand and then hand your passport over to the company who then riuns the passports in and out of Cambodia for you so you can then check back into Thailand.

Anyways, heading back to Bangkok now and will be updating the map with my location along the way.

To Cambodia and Back (border run part 2.)

So we just had our first stop, used the facilities, jumped back on the bus and were given fried rice for lunch which, if I may, I shall talk about for a moment.

Thai fried rice is not quite like my experiences with chinese fried rice. It is somehow lighter and tastier and laced with things like cilantro and fresh tomato and cucumber. Very tasty. Mine had shrimp.

So that said, before I close this post for now, I might just say that its pretty kick ass that I'm writing this from a bus burning through the countryside in Thailand. It may not be the fastest internet but it is good enough for email and such and its only costing me 1 baht / minute which is around $3/hour canadian and because I can turn internet on, connect to my email, turn it off and write and read emails and then turn it back on to send / update it costs very little to keep myself connected like the internet junkie that I am. So far I've had coverage the whole way. I can only hope the same applies when we head to the islands tomorrow.

Oh, and in terms of how I'm doing it, I have my cell phone sitting in my bag beside me and I can use it to connect and disconnect to the internet as needed through bluetooth (a wireless protocol)

More to come...

Visa run. Part 1.

I have to get to the cambodian border and get a new visa today. So far
progress is good. I have made it to the rally point, handed over my
passport and photos and paid my fee for the trip. Ready to get on the
bus

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Bangkok bank

Ranjene is opening a bank account at a bangkok bank branch near nana
sky train. As she does so i thought i might write a quick blog post.
We are heading first for ko samui by plane on the day after tomorrow.
Tomorrow though, i have to head for the cambodian border to refresh my
visa and give myself another 30 in the country. Joy. Once we hit samui
we will make some decisions about where to go and what to do in the
islands. Ill keep ya posted.

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