Humbleness begins at Koh San Road
Isn't it funny; whenever anything runs smoothly, you feel like little miss independent. You think you're on top of things and like you can conquer the world. Then you get food poisoning and all you wan't to do is go home to mom. Have her bring you filmjolk and put ice on your forhead.
I feel better now, but my miss inependent illusion is shaken. That's probably for the good of things. I meen; why be independent when you have such a wonderful family at home, caring, loving? And such wonderful friends too! Who was I to think I could do without them? Lucky they are just an e-mail away. I will never again think I'm doing this alone! Alskar er allihop!
By the way; Koh San Road is crazy. Bangkok is huge. Jossan is the best travel mate one could ask for. I guess thats that.. Oh and one more thing; we went to The Grand Palace yesterday and it was amazing. Now there's something to make you humble.. the Emerald Buddha made my knees weak.
Keep your head cool... I'm trying to.
I feel better now, but my miss inependent illusion is shaken. That's probably for the good of things. I meen; why be independent when you have such a wonderful family at home, caring, loving? And such wonderful friends too! Who was I to think I could do without them? Lucky they are just an e-mail away. I will never again think I'm doing this alone! Alskar er allihop!
By the way; Koh San Road is crazy. Bangkok is huge. Jossan is the best travel mate one could ask for. I guess thats that.. Oh and one more thing; we went to The Grand Palace yesterday and it was amazing. Now there's something to make you humble.. the Emerald Buddha made my knees weak.
Keep your head cool... I'm trying to.
Kayaking through Siam
Forlat, sorry, pardonnez-moi.. for I have sinned and I have not written anything for quite some time. I do confess the fault is not mine, but I do blame the lack of well funktioning computers in Thailand. I do hope you will forgive me!
To get to the point. I love this country! Having seen a little bit of it now. Well I guess I left you in Krabi, and I will take up the story there.
We went kayaking. If anyone reading this ever goes to Krabi I will say to thee: Go kayaking! Jossan and I instantly fell hard for our charming guide Mr. Eck and he showed us, and our small group of enthusiastic tourists, the best time and some very interesting Thai flora and fauna. Our first stop was on a little isolate sanbank which was as overcrowded as Bangkok with various different kinds of crabs and starfish. We played with them for some time. Jossan actually (accidentally?) torturing a small crab into loosing it's claw.. an event which inevitably lead to major teasing from myself, Mr Eck and everyone else in our very sympathetic group.
We went a few steps up the food chain and the next adventure was meeting some very "wild" makaks (monkeys), feeding them sappalot (pineapple) and sweet talking them like kittens. Very exiting, although Jossan managed to scare most of them away from our kayak (I guess her crab-torturing reputation had spread).
Next we saw mangrowe forrests galore and also the "Thai Grand Canyon", as Mr Eck expressed it, which left us amazed by it's majestic savoy (beauty).
Later that day we left for Koh Phi Phi Don, the larger of the two Phi Phi Island.
Verdict for Phi Phi Don:
- Beautiful
- Eventfull
- Totally overcrowded with tourists, espessially Swedish ones
But we had a great time! On the boat from Krabi to Phi Phi we met some very sympathetic Argentinians and Canadians and after chatting them up for the entire boatride we though we might aswell stick together. Good for us since it's pretty tricky getting accomodation on Phi Phi this time of year, and our new friends had all been there before and knew their way around. We took a longtail boat from the major port to Long Beach, a les crowded part of the island. And much more beautiful! Arriving there it turned out the lack of accomodation was rather vast but we got lucky and got the last two rooms. We crammed in twice as many people than they were ment for. Which was very budget minded I guess, for we only payed 100 bath (2euro, 20kr) for the night and Phi Phi is ranked one of the most expensive places in Thailand. But the rooms were really dodgy, and those who now me knows I'm not that picky. We decided to leave our stuff there and stay out as long as we could. Good plan. Phi Phi has some really nice party, I tell you! Bengan och Bea.. om ni har tid sa ak hit! Jag vet att ni skulle alska det.
Otherwise we spent our time on Phi Phi Don sunbathing, swimming, meeting new people and partying. So I guess we did the common thing. Enough is enough though and Jossan and I had enough after two days.
Yesterday we left for Bangkok and this is where you find us. After a 14 hour busride (thank you Conor for the travelling pillow!!!) we arrived here at 6 o'clock this morning.
Now we are off exploring.. hopefully we'll make it to the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha today. We are also trying to get tickets for Thai boxing tonight.
Thanks for the comments by the way.. they are very much appriciated! Keep it up!
Hall nu ut i stormen Per darhemma! Alskar er!
Until next time; keep it cool...
To get to the point. I love this country! Having seen a little bit of it now. Well I guess I left you in Krabi, and I will take up the story there.
We went kayaking. If anyone reading this ever goes to Krabi I will say to thee: Go kayaking! Jossan and I instantly fell hard for our charming guide Mr. Eck and he showed us, and our small group of enthusiastic tourists, the best time and some very interesting Thai flora and fauna. Our first stop was on a little isolate sanbank which was as overcrowded as Bangkok with various different kinds of crabs and starfish. We played with them for some time. Jossan actually (accidentally?) torturing a small crab into loosing it's claw.. an event which inevitably lead to major teasing from myself, Mr Eck and everyone else in our very sympathetic group.
We went a few steps up the food chain and the next adventure was meeting some very "wild" makaks (monkeys), feeding them sappalot (pineapple) and sweet talking them like kittens. Very exiting, although Jossan managed to scare most of them away from our kayak (I guess her crab-torturing reputation had spread).
Next we saw mangrowe forrests galore and also the "Thai Grand Canyon", as Mr Eck expressed it, which left us amazed by it's majestic savoy (beauty).
Later that day we left for Koh Phi Phi Don, the larger of the two Phi Phi Island.
Verdict for Phi Phi Don:
- Beautiful
- Eventfull
- Totally overcrowded with tourists, espessially Swedish ones
But we had a great time! On the boat from Krabi to Phi Phi we met some very sympathetic Argentinians and Canadians and after chatting them up for the entire boatride we though we might aswell stick together. Good for us since it's pretty tricky getting accomodation on Phi Phi this time of year, and our new friends had all been there before and knew their way around. We took a longtail boat from the major port to Long Beach, a les crowded part of the island. And much more beautiful! Arriving there it turned out the lack of accomodation was rather vast but we got lucky and got the last two rooms. We crammed in twice as many people than they were ment for. Which was very budget minded I guess, for we only payed 100 bath (2euro, 20kr) for the night and Phi Phi is ranked one of the most expensive places in Thailand. But the rooms were really dodgy, and those who now me knows I'm not that picky. We decided to leave our stuff there and stay out as long as we could. Good plan. Phi Phi has some really nice party, I tell you! Bengan och Bea.. om ni har tid sa ak hit! Jag vet att ni skulle alska det.
Otherwise we spent our time on Phi Phi Don sunbathing, swimming, meeting new people and partying. So I guess we did the common thing. Enough is enough though and Jossan and I had enough after two days.
Yesterday we left for Bangkok and this is where you find us. After a 14 hour busride (thank you Conor for the travelling pillow!!!) we arrived here at 6 o'clock this morning.
Now we are off exploring.. hopefully we'll make it to the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha today. We are also trying to get tickets for Thai boxing tonight.
Thanks for the comments by the way.. they are very much appriciated! Keep it up!
Hall nu ut i stormen Per darhemma! Alskar er!
Until next time; keep it cool...
The Ballad of Koh Pahn Ngang
It is a 45 minute boat trip from Koh Samui to Koh Pahn Ngang.. but it was some great 45 minutes! The feeling we had leaving that island and commencing the adventure at this new one was just pure joy! The sun was shining.. the wind was blowning.. the boat was rocking.. the small, illagaly imported puppies in the basket next to me were playing.. you get the picture. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment. And then it passed to give away to an even better one.. well as you hear.. Im pure optimism at the time of writing.
Well, to actually write something of importance. Jossan and I got accomodation at Coral Bungalows. A back packer hang out about five minutes walk from Had Rihn (wich is where all the action is!). We share a bungalow, paying 500 bath wich is about 100 SEK, 10 euro.. seems pretty fair to me and then we have major location.
First night in town we hit the beach hard and shared our first bucket (what that is you who dont know will have to figure out by yourselves). We hung out with some nice Finns, Israelis and Aussis and managed to get hung with enough orkids to give us a neckpain the day after. Thats obviously the way they do it here and I dont mind!
Yesterday we took it easy, enjoyng the sun and exploring our immidiate surroundings as well as Had Rihn. As a very thourogh pisces I spent about half the day plunging around in the water. We had dinner with two friends from the night before, Andre and Andrew, and watched a movie in one of the bars. Babel, great film, a bit depressing though. Then we spent a god few our cahhting away before dancing the night a way in the waves at the beach.
Today was a lovely day. We rented a scooter (moped) and went exploring the island. Imaginge; to your right there is the ocean.. glistering in the sunlight.. to your left is the steep hill covered in jungle.. In front of you is Jossans bright pink helmet, bouncing up and down like a marshmellow in a west coast coffe hot chocolate. Well thats enoght to make me sing (ask Jossan, she will tell you).
Now we are heading out for dinner. Tonight is the night! Half moon festival and the island will be boiling.. we signed up for free fingerpaint. Thats all I know.
Over and out.
May the force be with you.
Saknar er redan!
Breaking and entering
So I am here.. It's hard to believe it, but I am finally here!
Tt's been a smooth jerney, 10 hours Stockhom- Bankok.. 2,5 hours at the airport.. and then 1,5 hours to Koh Samui, and that's where you find me at the moment! I met up with Jossan at the airport.. bu i might be going ahead of myself now..
First things first: I left at 11 o'clock from Lidingo. and my hole family went with me to the airport. Very nice indeed. I noticed a bit of a change though from when I went to Dublin; last time we we're all crying and hugging and kissing and all of that. This time we we're all laughing, and hugging and kissing and all of that. My conclusion is: We are all getting used to me leaving. Now THAT is a bit sad, don't you think?
Well well, then we had the allready accounted for jerney. And I have to say, Thai Airways.. wow! The staff is so nice, the food is great.. and everything (and I meen everything) is bright purple. It would have been a very pleasent flight, if I hadn't tried to socalise with the people sitting next to me. Meaning two people from the Swedish custums, on a business trip. I tried not to be bored to death by their spech of underaged smuggling, and in an act of self defence my body went into a trans and I fell asleep. But only for an hour.. the rest was just pretend....
The plain to Koh Samui was a piece of art, a small propeller plain, painted with palm treas (real ones, not Irish ones), fish and even a gigantic jelly fish.
I read in my guide book, on the way to Koh Samui that in January they usually have two days of rain. Made me feel pretty safe. But as it happended, when I got there it was raining. And it has been, on and off, ever since. Well, I've only just been here 24 hours so I'm not troubled yet. I have five more months to get a tan.
Other than that I've mostly been sleeping off the jet lag. Besides eating of course; we wen't to a wonderful restaurant yesterday. But now true back packing life will commence.. We're heading to Koh Pha Ngang in two hours for a half moon festival!
Kolla in Jossans resedagbok for en svensk version av vart aventyr; www.resedagboken.se sok pa JosefinBergholtz, det ar enklast.
Kiss and goodbye!
Tt's been a smooth jerney, 10 hours Stockhom- Bankok.. 2,5 hours at the airport.. and then 1,5 hours to Koh Samui, and that's where you find me at the moment! I met up with Jossan at the airport.. bu i might be going ahead of myself now..
First things first: I left at 11 o'clock from Lidingo. and my hole family went with me to the airport. Very nice indeed. I noticed a bit of a change though from when I went to Dublin; last time we we're all crying and hugging and kissing and all of that. This time we we're all laughing, and hugging and kissing and all of that. My conclusion is: We are all getting used to me leaving. Now THAT is a bit sad, don't you think?
Well well, then we had the allready accounted for jerney. And I have to say, Thai Airways.. wow! The staff is so nice, the food is great.. and everything (and I meen everything) is bright purple. It would have been a very pleasent flight, if I hadn't tried to socalise with the people sitting next to me. Meaning two people from the Swedish custums, on a business trip. I tried not to be bored to death by their spech of underaged smuggling, and in an act of self defence my body went into a trans and I fell asleep. But only for an hour.. the rest was just pretend....
The plain to Koh Samui was a piece of art, a small propeller plain, painted with palm treas (real ones, not Irish ones), fish and even a gigantic jelly fish.
I read in my guide book, on the way to Koh Samui that in January they usually have two days of rain. Made me feel pretty safe. But as it happended, when I got there it was raining. And it has been, on and off, ever since. Well, I've only just been here 24 hours so I'm not troubled yet. I have five more months to get a tan.
Other than that I've mostly been sleeping off the jet lag. Besides eating of course; we wen't to a wonderful restaurant yesterday. But now true back packing life will commence.. We're heading to Koh Pha Ngang in two hours for a half moon festival!
Kolla in Jossans resedagbok for en svensk version av vart aventyr; www.resedagboken.se sok pa JosefinBergholtz, det ar enklast.
Kiss and goodbye!
Ice hockey
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Finally some pictures
| I finally had the time to load some pictures. Håll till godo! |
Merry xmas!
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The cousins
 My lovely cousins Tilda and Hanna and of course my little sister Linda.. all xmas dressed |
Oncle Egge is Santa
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Xmas eve
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Last night in Dublin
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Good advice
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Linnea & Regina at the Celt
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Family over
 Lovely family visit at the Guinness storehouse. |
Maria & Ellie
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Halloween
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Conor och jag
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Cliffs of Mohair
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Happy Christmas!
| Happy Christmas! I hope you all had/ are having a wonderful xmas. I sure did.. had everything I could wish for, family, herring, great gifts and Donald Duck on TV ( for all you who are not very involved in the Swedish culture, everybody, and I meen everybody, watches Donald Duck at 3 o'clock on christmas eve, same episode every year, great tradition!). Last days of running around kicked in though and I fell asleep during Cinderella but woke up just in time for Peter Pan. Giftwise I got all usefull things, supplies if you want, for Asia.. never more needed than now. Really good stuff, and from Linda (little sister) I got a waterpipe from Istanbul. We´re going to try it out tomorrow. We did all the traditions, went to church as every xmas, only time we go. But we were to lazy to go to our usual church, so we went to the baptist one just down the hill from the house. Their xmas play was actually better than the one we usually go to, and I met a bunch of friends who I haven´t seen since grauation. Might start a new tradition. Then I went to grandma with my dad, and we went to the graveyard to see grandpa. After that we were off to the cousins for glögg and Donald Duck, before it was time to open the presents and have dinner at our place. Then we spent an hour wathing videos from past xmases, and laughing at eachothers haircuts, clothes and comments. We finished of with the usuall game of charades. Busy but lovely day! Today I just spent ice skating. Made the unpleasant discovery thet I am in really poor form. What has Ireland done to me? I´ll see if I can post some pictures on the blogg.. some from Ireland and as few from xmas.. By the way, still use my Irish number, lost my Swedish sim. New card is on the way, and I'll still use my old number +4673-3504926. Va härligt det är att vara hemma. Även om jag är lite surmulen på snöbristen, men man får väl nöja sig med frost, när inget bättre bjuds. Är just nu i landet ingenstans vad gäller nyårsplaner. Hoppas att nått skoj dyker upp, jag har ett par trådar att dra i dock. Nu ska jag se om jag kan lägga upp lite bilder, så ni får se hur det var på Irland och kanske ett par julbilder också! Har än så länge mitt irländska mobilnummer.. har tappat bort mitt svenska simkort.. men ett nytt kommer på posten snart och då har jag mitt gamla nummer 073-3504926. |
Back to Lidingö
| Switching to English! My Swedish speaking friends will have to forgive me, I know you all speak it though, so I´m not that sorry. And for the English speaking people, forgive the spelling ( but I don´t care.. haha). Well, I´m back home now and I got a royal welcome from my da and my sister at the airport. And when I got home my mum already hand my friend Fia on the phone. So I felt the warmth, eventhough it´s a bit chilly here. Just to ensure, the first thing I did after arriving home was taking a sauna. Yesterday I mostly spent running around, getting a new passport and then I went for glögg and gingerbread baking over at Fia´s, with Naomi. Lovely.. we burnt 60% of the cookies and ate half of the dough and just chatted away. Isn´t that what friands are for? I had Jossan over for some Asia planning in the evening. Se´s leaving on the 25th so we don´t have that much time on our hands. One day til xmas and of course loads of preparations to be made.. bying a xmas tree, bying the xmas food.. hanging the xmas tree.. preparing the xmas food.. wrapping the gifts. You know the deal. I had time to go for a coffee with my friend Lisabeth though.. loads to catch up on! Tommorrow it´s xmas! God Jul |