Further misadventures in Thailand

5 dead mosquitoes.  6 dead mosquitoes.  Seriously, why were they all hanging around me??  I was on the bus, headed back to Phnom Penh from Koh Kong, the border town near Thailand.  I had had the opportunity to take an air-conditioned taxi back to the capital , but for the sake of a measly $13, I had refused.  And in the process, I lost $50, or if you will, a day’s pay.

Let me backtrack a little for you.  To get from Phnom Penh to Koh Chang, I had paid $23.  At the time I had thought the price quite steep, but for less stress and because  of the lovely girl who sold me my ticket, I paid up.  The journey; completely non-problematic.  So when I decided to return to PP, I again went to 3 different travel agents in Koh Chang and was quoted 15oo baht, or $50 if you will for the reverse journey.  I knew I could do it cheaper off my own bat, so that I did.  All was going well and I had only spend $15 by the time I crossed the border.

As I crossed, various touts informed me that the express bus I desired was full, and that I should catch a share taxi back home for $20.  However, me being the seasoned traveller that I am (yeah right…) decided these guys were taking me for a ride (excuse the pun) so instead I headed for the bus station where sure enough, I was told the bus I wanted was full, but that a shittier version would leave in 2 hours time for the inflated foreign price of $12.  (Locals pay $7)  Begrudgingly, I paid and headed into town for some deliciously cheap lunch.  I then wasted some time on good old ‘facebook’ before heading back to the bus station.  When I went to pay for my moto driver, the hand in my pocket sensed that the $50 I had exchanged from baht back at the border was gone.  Had I unconsciously put it in my wallet?  No, I hadn’t.  Nor had I put it in any of my other 4 pockets.  It was definitely gone.  So, I boarded my mosquito ridden, barely air-conditioned bus, trying to convince myself that some Cambodian had found $50 worth of New Year luck in the streets of Koh Kong that day.  As for me, in an effort to save myself $27, I had parted with $80 that day, and it was only 1.20pm.

Misadventures in Thailand

It was when the 48th bucket of water was thrown at my head in Koh Chang by a stupid backpacker during Songkran (Thai New Year) that I decided that perhaps I am too old and cynical to do the Thailand island circuit for the second time around.  I decided I hated all backpackers and was furious at myself for forgetting how ordinary the food is in island tourist locations in Thailand….

However, instead of packing it all in and heading back to Phnom Penh, I decided a change of surroundings was in order, so after a quick consultation with the Lonely Planet, I headed for a small nearby island called Koh Mak.  After a 2 hour slow boat ride through and passageway of small islands with deserted white beaches, I reached my destination and was soon settled in a beachside bungalow complete with my own hammock.  I then proceeded to spend the afternoon reading between dips in the ocean.  Happy times.

Now it may be due to my red hair and whiter than white skin, that I am quickly bored on a beach.  I had also forgotten that Thai beaches, though quite stunning, their water temperature sits at about 40 degrees celcius, so when its warmer in the water than out… not such a relief from the blistering heat!! The beach is ok for a day or two, but then I want to know.. whats next???  So this morning I decided it was cycling!!!  Earlyish I hired a ‘mountain bike’ and set out to ride around the island. 

AN hour later I had hit my 3rd dead end, had pushed my ‘mountain bike’ up to many hills to recollect and was pouring with sunscreen infused sweat…  (whats that saying about only mad dogs and englishmen going out in the midday sun!!??)I had almost given up on the whole stupid idea, when I finally hit a sealed road and was at a beach on the opposite side of the island from whence I had come.  Score!!!!  White sand, palm trees, beachside bar and much cooler water temperatures quckly made me forget my dripping face, sunscreen covered clothing and legs turned some shade of ochre from the red dirt tracks.  But in the back of my mind I still knew I would have to somehow get back…..

Koh Wai... tropical paradise...