Back to Thailand, Koh Tao!

I'm home!!!! Back in Joburg after what can only be described as the best 18 months I could ever imagine! I did try my best to keep everyone up to speed with my 3 and a bit months in South East Asia but that didn't exactly go according to plan soooo I figured I'd just keep going now as I have tons of free time (unemployment! woo!)

After a super cool trip to Myanmar I had to say laters to Teddy Chesnut and was on my own again. One thing I really wanted to do on this trip was learn how to dive and get my open water license. I ran out of time before because I decided to go get hammered on Koh Phi Phi and Koh Phangnan before Burma, as one does. So I decided it was now or never. I got on the first night bus out of Bangkok and headed back down south for round two. I arrived in Koh Tao to my name on a piece of paper and got taken to the dive school. After a quick nap it was time to start the course. It pretty much consisted of videos and tests for the first two days and then the real diving began. I honestly can't put words to how cool it is being under water and being able to breathe and see the most beautiful ocean life like its no big deal. After four quick days of videos, tests, pool practice and amazing ocean diving I had become a PADI open water diver! I get a card and everything! The pretty fantastic instructors at Davy Jones Locker and my awesome dive buddy Femke made it super easy and a lot of fun:)

Because the dive course had taken up most of my first four days on Koh Tao, I decided to stay an extra two days to explore the island a bit more. I moved to a new backpackers, a bit further inland from the beach. The first day there turned into a pretty unforgettable Koh Tao holiday. Met some brilliant people, the unofficial but also totally official pres crew. If you're unfamiliar, pres: noun, the act of drinking cheap as chips booze before going out and drinking more/turning a hostel room into a war zone/creating a shit show. This happened for the next 3 nights teamed with snorkel trips and beach bumming. Koh Tao was definitely one for the books and further threw out every fear I had before about travelling alone because no matter where you are you're guaranteed to meet amazing people that you'll definitely keep in touch with for a long time:) Koh Tao, you were lovely...

That time I went to Phuket, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Phangan... again!

I was so ready for beach time after spending time in the cities of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Eager to go back to Thailand, I wasn't at all that excited for Phuket. A travel plan that didn't quite work out left me with an Air Asia flight to Phuket that I couldn't cancel or change to somewhere else. I booked a hostel on Kata beach to try escape the crazy wild Patong beach that we stayed at last time. I'd love to say that my thoughts on Phuket beaches have changed this time around but that's unfortunately not the case. A walk down to the beach consisted of not one word of English being heard, literally only Russians were there buying into all the tacky touristy shit imaginable, not batting an eyelid at prices and making everything there pretty expensive. The sleazy girly bars that I thought I'd be skipping in Patong were still there too. Sorry Phuket but I don't think I'll be seeing you again.

After spending a day there I made my way to Koh Phi Phi to meet up with friends I'd made in KL. We had a lot of fun. Phi Phi was still a party beach as I remembered it with people riding their bikes through the town going beep beep instead of bells lol. Still a lot of fun:) I made some new friends, had way too many drinks and was eventually roped into going to Koh Phangan for the Full Moon party... again.

Koh Phangan did turn out to be a whole lot of fun. I had originally planned to go to Krabi to do my dive course but worked out that I wouldn't have enough time before I'd have to be up in Bangkok to go to Burma. After a long trip of ferries, buses and ferries again we made it to the land of Fullmoon, Halfmoon and Jungle parties, all of the parties. We did them all, as one does in Koh Phangan. The Full Moon party was pretty wild. Lumo, trance music, crazy people, all rolled into one. I definitely think its the last time I'll be doing it though. Think twice in your life is enough lol. The crazy week of partying on the islands definitely called for some down time in Bangkok, or something like that :)

Next stop.... ?

Since the beginning of the year I have been going on about my plans of moving to Asia to teach English as a foreign language. I've annoyed the hell out of people talking their ears off about my plans but showing them no signs of actually going, but... I am happy to say that I have completed my TEFL course, got sent my certificate today and am applying for teaching posts as we speak!!

I'm becoming oh so nervous already and I haven't even been accepted for any jobs yet.. I think the realisation of the fact that I'll be living on my own in a non english speaking country on the other side of the world has given me   the feeling of 10 billion crack addicted butterflies fluttering around in my tummy!

The next step is deciding where to go. I'm really keen on staying in a big city so its a toss up between Bangkok and Seoul... hmmm decisions decisions..

This:

 

or this:

 

*Pics via Pinterest*

Thailand in pictures.

After finally getting all my pictures from Thailand in order Ive decided to show you :)

I could speak about every single city, town or island we went to. Every temple, market or beach we went to. Every bus, plane or ferry we caught. Every party or bar we went to. Every boy I may or may not have scoped out :P hehe!

But... that would make this post about 7 pages long... so I’ll just show you in pictures :)

Ive been a little addicted with making collages at the moment, so I made a few with some of the pics from the places we went to...

• A little bit of Bangkok. Khao San Road, Grand Palace, Chatuchak Market, Take away bugs, Buckets & Drunken siblings :)

• Patong in Phuket, aka crazy town! Ladyboys, Thai cover bands, Thai breakdancers, Tigers coming out of clubs & beach vibes :)

• Koh Phi Phi... Tiny island, no cars, tuk tuks or scooters, just bicycles and legs, lots of legs. Colourful Beach bars everywhere & monkey friends. Home of 'The Beach' beach, spectacular views :)

• Last leg of the trip, Koh Lanta and Koh Phangan. Koh Lanta was super chilled, not many tourists which was nice for a change. Went on long boat trips, chilled out on hammocks, lunch on the beach.. perfect :)
• Koh Phangnan beaches... wow! Half moon party, Full moon party, New years eve, Green Jesus, Lumo paint, fireworks.. pretty superb end to the trip :)

One day left!!!

This has been one crazy year. Ive learnt so much, laughed so much and cried so much. Its been fun, wild, busy, boring, upsetting, exciting and scary all at once...

To end off this year I'll be jetting off to Thailand tomorrow!!!! Ive got no doubt that its going to be an amazing 3 weeks :)
So passport and tiny bag in hand (tiny, so I can come back with loads of neat stuff!) and I'm off! ...well tomorrow I'll be off but you catch my drift :P



Bangkok, you're really really pretty at night :)



December... Im excited to see you

The pros and cons have been weighed out and its been decided... Thailand in December!!! I cannot wait for this little beaut of a holiday. Ive got no doubt in my mind that its gonna be fan-fricken-tastic! Ive been googling all sorts of pictures of Bangkok and the islands.. I'm also thinking I should re-rent The Beach to see Phi Phi island where it was filmed, its one of our pit stops, and maybe have a little perv at young hottie Leo too :P

Managed to make a little collage of googled pics of what I'll hopefully be seeing and eating:) Microsoft Paint pro, yes thats my name :)