good bye snow...

back to samet...

Hello everyone!

Sorry it's been so long, but the stiches just came out, and it hurt to type. Stiches? You may ask. Don't worry, the story is on it's way!!

So a few weekends back Jeff, Lisa and I went on an impromptu trip back to the beautiful island of Koh Samet. It was wonderful. We left following the mantra "Let's wing it!" and that seemed to work.

On Friday Jeff called the cab to pick us up from school... which of course did not show up. So we caught a ride with a co worker who took us closer to the city. Then we hopped on motorcycle taxi's to get us the rest of the way to the bus station. At this point we were sure we missed the bus, and would have to wait another hour, but luckily the 4 o clock bus was running late, and we made it within minutes.

We rode all the way to Samet, found some wonderful people on the bus to share a speed boat with, and took a speed boat all the way to the beach. The funny thing about being dropped off my speedboat is that they take you close to shore, but not quite close enough to avoid getting completely soaked. So you hop off the boat with all your bags and things, and you are thigh deep in water. It's actually a pretty funny sight.

Then, we wandered up and down the beach looking for a place to stay. We ended up making a deal with the receptionist and this one guest house and ended up getting a really cute bungalow. It was the nicest place I've stayed at in all of my thai travels and I paid about 12 dollars a night. Love it.



We then when down to a restaurant on the beach. We sat on thai triangle pillows, Lisa found her favorite Soi dog and we ate really good and cheap food. We then wandered farther down the beach to a bar. At this point we discovered that it was a full moon party. I don't really know how it's different than anyother party night they have at this bar, except for there was this pretty incredible sign that they fired up. It was cool. We also enjoyed watching the flame throwers do thier show.



Lisa, Jeff and some people we met went for a midnight swim in the ocean. I observed from afar, for fear of being attacked by jellyfish. After that we went to bed.





The next morning I went for a walk and layed on the beach and explored while I waited for my friends to wake up. Finally they did. So we decided to follow through with our plan to rent motorbikes and explore the island. Lisa had made friends with a Thai guy who worked at a bar we went to the night before, and he was gonna show her how to drive it. So, Jeff and I were going to share a bike. We got a really sketchy lesson from the guy who rented us the bike. Jeff was the first driver, and told me to hop on. I questioned him, and suggested that he practice first and then take a passenger. But no - he said he could handle it. Turns out he couldn't. I hopped on, and within seconds he had driven me right into a hill on the side of the rode. I slid off the back of the bike and gashed my hand on a rock. The guy who rented us the bike drove me to the health center to get my hand sewn up. Let me tell you, Jeff's face of disgust when the doctor pulled out the needle was not the most reassuring.



Regardless, I was fine. It hurt a bit... but doc gave me drugs. I think Jeff's ego was hurt more than my hand. So family have no fear. I'm still alive and well. The stiches came out on Sunday. Horrah!

The rest of the day we just took it easy, enjoyed the beach (but not the water, cause I couldn't get my hand wet) had some more good food, visited another bar and went to bed. On Sunday we just chilled in a hammock and on the beach and I read my book. It was nice. Then we took a ferry back to the mainland. Boating here is just a funny situation. To get into the ferry we had to climb though about 4 other ferrys. Not an easy task when you are carrying bags and can't grip with your right hand. But Lisa took care of me so I made it out all right.

We caught the next bus out of there and arrived home in good time, ready to start our next work week.

This past weekend was not so eventful. I went to a workshop on literacy and assessment. It was actually really helpful. So I'm glad I gave up a weekend. However, that leaves no stories to report.

I miss you all so much. Don't forget to write me back.

Lots and lots of love coming your way!

posted by Crystal @ 4:02 AM