The end of Thailand

Today we took a flight from Krabi back to Bangkok. We are staying in a nic(er) hotel and are awaiting our flight to Delhi tomorrow. My time in Thailand has been enjoyable. I think my two most favourite spots were Chiang Mai in the north and Phi Phi in the south (just because it was so beautiful). My last couple of days have been spent eating tons of food (banana pancakes), having multiple massages, sleeping on the beach, and yes I pierced my nose again! (A souvenir from Phi Phi) Although I really like Thailand it is extremely touristy. I would of really liked to get a bit off the beaten track and I definitely will if I return to Thailand again. The tourist trail is a bit of the same same 'but different' (as the saying goes).. Same tourist restaurants, same shops, same parties, same crowd. It was nice though. I am really looking forward to a big culture shock -DELHI-! I've heard a lot of mixed things about India, an often heard statement is that it will 'blow your mind.' Already I have gotten in touch with some Indian people through Couchsurfing or friends of friends and am looking forward to seeing Delhi with the help of some locals.

We leave Bangkok tomorrow at 745pm...it sure is exciting to move on to a new scene!

Here are some pics from my last week or so..

Hope all is well

Love Krista

Koh Phi Phi

Buckets

Maya Bay- The Beach

On the boat to Phi Phi

@ Maya Bay

Our French Roomie and Us with a Bucket

Traditional Thai Food- Pizza and Pasta

Beautiful Thailand

Sitting at a dodgy Thai Bar playing Connect 4 while we 'people watch'

BEACH

Koh Phi Phi

Angie and I are in Koh Phi Phi rooming with a French girl we met at the pier. Yesterday we just went to the beach and explored a bit but we were quite tired so we went to bed. The night before we had taken the night boat from Koh Tao to Koh Phi Phi and it was anything but luxurious. The boat was really rusty, carrying tons of garbage, it had a really weird entrance where we climbed up the side and a bunch of bunks in the middle. It was so rocky I popped two Gravols so I could pass out. Obviously we made it in one piece... (Thank Goodness). Today we took a tour around Koh Phi Phi to Bamboo Beach, Monkey Beach (where there were no monkeys.. :( ) and Maya Bay (the place where they filmed "The Beach.") Unfortunately it was raining for a lot of this tour, but as soon as we got to Maya Bay the sun came out for just enough time. Angie and I took lots of pictures :)

Tonight we will meet with some girls we met from Holland and Germany and than hit the town. Its Aussie Day so I am sure we will find lots of Drunk "Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi's" being yelled from the street..

Tomorrow we will still be in Koh Phi Phi and than the next day we will probably go to Railay or something.

Cant believe we are in India so soon. I am excited to travel, and most of all start my internship :)

Hope all is well!

Krista

Thailand- The Islands/Chiang Mai/a bit of everything..

Koh Phangan

Bucket in a hammock :)

Gettin ready for Full Moon

Our diving resort

Yummy Lobster

Our Italian friend fire spinning

Our host Wil in the back and our new friend Edie

Koh Phangan

Crazy times on a party train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok

Contemplating the meaning of life while I look out of a train

MUAY THAI!

In Koh tao

We have made it to Koh Tao. Nice to leave Koh Phangan. Started a dive course today, first part went great but then I got a bit nervous in the second part and decided to take a rest. Hopefully it goes better tomorrow. I still have to decide what I want to do.

Hope all is well :)

Love Krista

Pictures- Koh Phangan

My motor bike and I outside the cafe we stopped in for lunch

Coconut on the beach

Hat Salad Beach

Koh Phangan

Today Angie and I rented motorbikes and drove around an hour and a bit away to a really nice beach called Hat Salad. The beach was amazing, really gorgeous and we enjoyed coconuts, 1 hour massages, swimming, and tanning. The beach was way better than the one in Haad Rin where the Full Moon Party is held- really dirty with all the leftovers of the night befores' partiers. Riding the motorbikes was an interesting experience.. I was a bit nervous because I have never driven one before, but it was really fun. Angie and I went a bit slower than all the crazy Thai people and it was a really beautiful and scenic ride. (Dont worry Mom and Dad I had my helmet on..) :-)

Now we are going to take it easy tonight, maybe go out for a bit.. The Full Moon Party is tomorrow. We will see how I like it. Its fun here but I am getting a bit sick of the crazy party scene.. Lots of young, drunken fools. :-) (I am such an old lady..)

Love Krista

Koh Phangan- the party!

Koh Phangan is a total party place. Angie and I have been going out non stop and now we are resting in an Indian restaurant drinking Chai tea, reading, and catching up on mails. The weather has been amazing but right now we are experiencing one of the horrible downpours that you only experience in Asia.

Yesterday was the pool party at Coral Bungalows. Lots of neon paint on peoples bodies, buckets galore, and craziness in the pool. Its definitely an interesting people watching experience. Sometimes I wonder whats wrong with us humans..!

Also I got my haircut and it was a scary experience. The lady was just hacking at my hair but in the end it turned out alright. I guess it was just a different method than what I was used to!

Anyways heres some photos so you can see all of the fun we have been having...:)!

Until next time..

Miss everyone!

Krista

Fire limbo/jump rope anyone?

Cheers Beer

Pool Party

Madness in the pool

A bunch of foreign douchebags - typical scenery 

Pictures- Koh phangan

Koh Phangan

After 28 hours of travel by train, tuk tuk, plane, taxi, walking, and ferry we have made it to the island of Koh Phangan. Angie and I almost missed our train because right before hand we had an amazing Thai massage. Feeling a bit too relaxed we went to go get banana french toast when we realized our train was leaving in 30 minutes! We made it on time though after a rushed dash through Chiang Mai. The night before we went to Muay Thai which was pretty awesome. The highlight though had to be topless lady boys dancing to the YMCA.... very interesting... The train to Bangkok from Chiang Mai was pretty sweet as well. We met some Canadians and Americans  in the eating compartment of the train which turned into a crazy disco with flashing lights and blaring music during the later half of the night.. Thailand is crazy. When we arrived in Koh Phangan we checked into this absolute hole that I had prebooked through Hostelworld. The owner was sprawled out on the couch like he was in an opium den and Angie took a shower in the bathroom/kitchen- dirty plates everywhere. It was disgusting - so we decided to cut our losses and check into somewhere new.. It has its own pool and is quite basic but nice. Last night we went out on the beach to have some buckets and dance. Angie even tried fire limbo and fire jumping rope. (Don't worry I didn't!) Today we are just going to lounge around and than go out again tonight..

Will post pics later.

Love Krista

Some random photos for your viewing pleasure...

Be sure to check out my new post below :-)

Shisha on Rambutri Road in Bangkok

Wat Arun

Geared up and ready to go

Ayutthaya 

Ayutthaya

Pink dog in Chiang Mai

Elephants

5 star hotel in the Hill Tribes

Looking like a nerd

Chiang Mai- The Night/Cooking Class

Last night we met up with a Couchsurfer from Burnaby and his friend. Angie and I were curious about seeing the 'seedy' part of Chiang Mai, and the boys happily took us there. We went to this gross area with all these bars that were called names like 'Sexy Bar', 'Same same but different Bar' etc. It was quite sad actually as all it was were all of these young Thai girls and ladyboys and tons of old (mostly British) men. No one was hiding anything and it was really gross but interesting to watch. We then went to a backpacker bar that had a live band and a reggae bar. It was pretty fun.

Today Angie and I took part in a 5 hour cooking class which is ran by the owners of the guest house we are staying at. Us 2, along with 5 hours cooked up a storm making a variety of dishes including green chicken curry, chicken with cashew nuts, fish cakes, fish souffle, Tom Yum soup, pad thai, spring rolls, and a delicious pumpkin and coconut cream desert. We started off in the market where our instructor showed us a variety of exotic fruits and vegetables. We then headed to the house where the cooking school is located and began to learn and cook away. . We made 4 or so dishes first and than sat while our stomachs anxiously waited to devour everything in sight. It was well worth the wait- everything we made was absolutely delicious. It was a great experience. Angie and I than returned to the guest house and went off to get another massage. It was amazing yet again- it has definitely become our favourite past time. Tonight we are meeting up with my friend Tony's former Muay Thai instructor. He is going to pick us up and take us to a fight which should be quite interesting. I am definitely looking forward to that.


Off on a train to Bangkok tomorrow but will probably update before then..

Cheers!

Krista

Out in Chiang Mai

Deep fried chicken head anyone?

Veggies!

Joe showing us how to make the green curry paste.

Everything Angie and I made!

A natural :P

Onion and tomato art!

Cooking

My spring rolls

The whole gang with our 'certificates'!