We leave tonight for the journey home. The last week on the island, despite the mishaps, was excellent. Muzzy snorkeled an old wreck off Sairee Beach and while he didn't get to go more than one day, he did get to see the fishes. I bobbed around in the blue waters and a good time was had by all. We think we will come back to Koh Tao. The Seaview Resort is low key, very quiet with stunning tree top views, a great cook named O and a crew of delightful Burmese ladies who called us "Ma and Pa". It is not on the beach, but close enough with a motorbike. We even got to see the crazy bird whose call I was sure was a monkey. He is a big sucker with a long black tail, head like a raven and beautiful brown wings. The resort kitties gave us endless petting opportunites, and our hut perched on the side of the hill looked all the way down to Ao Leuk beach...beautiful.
The train back to BKK was slightly delayed. The engine for the local had broken down and it sat on the main track for about 45 minutes. The "farang" train stopped one track over and I thought we would have to crawl through the local and across the tracks, but the local pulled out and the station guys hustled all of us burned out beachies with our stupid rolly bags and giant back packs onto the sleeping cars of the Express for the 9 hour trip to Bangkok. What a relief. I had a moment of panic earlier in the day when the ferry on the 3 hour trip from Koh Tao to Chumphon slipped out of gear and came to a stop in the middle of the water. After a little clanking and clunking, we were on our way...a much mellower ride than the one out. I had forgotten how rough the water can be in January. Like clockwork, when the calendar changed to February, the water glassed over, the sea became clear blue green, and things settled down...just as we left. No matter. We will go later next year.
Our last two days in Bangkok involved two mornings at Chatuchak. It's nice that we finally figured out how to use the debit card over here...I guess...maybe not, considering we have two more bags returning with us than we had when we left, and sent a box with two big gold and black electric fans off on a boat with DHL. Chatuchak is less of a mystery and I don't think that is a good thing for us...I found an amazing store with antique textiles and silver Chinese jewelry, as well as a beautiful silver and agate Tibetan cup, some great tunics, fabulous rayon fabric from China, more beads than I care to think about, millions of magnets, and presents for everyone. We even found Willy's Bar, which we completely missed last trip! We sat there drinking an iced mocha looking at the corner where Sarah, Kristen, Tu, Sean and Amy and I sat in 2008! I'm so glad its still there! And though our favorite coffee people have returned to Chiang Mai, a new little place has opened offering great coffee and fresh juice.
So now I have to pack...I will post photos soon. Muzzy took lots of video this time...of pak boon fai dang at Jok Pochana, of the horse cart rides in Bagan, on the lake at Inle, of the trains, and our last night at the park on Phra Atit...the Thai Low Riders bike exhibit and the gangsta dancers and the aerobics class...Damn, I love Thailand!
