Island Hopping Continues

During the Thai New Years in April, a few of us decided to go to Koh Phangnan which is world famous for its Full Moon parties. We didn't actually plan the trip FOR the party but decided if we're going there then might as well make it fall during one of the parties.

Unfortunately for us the party was the day we arrived. That was after 11 hours on a bus (with little or no sleep as it was too uncomfortable to get any kind of sleep) and then another 3 hours on a boat under the April sun (which is probably the hottest time in Thailand reaching well into the 40 degrees Celsius range).

Yes we made it to the full moon party... all dead and tired... 11 hours on the bus and then another 3 hours under the Thailand's April sun= dehydration and utter exhaustion

We stayed at a resort called the Charm Beach Resort- the picture on the right is the charming beach view we had... and frankly this resort was everything but charming!

Snorkeling!

Our supposedly 'Air Con' train- covered with dust and filth!

Destination: Koh Samui

Sleeping Beauties- on our way to Koh Samui

My Dashing Dai

Catching some waves-- notice how it looks like I'm drowning and no one really seems to care

My first elephant ride- we got the grumpiest guide of the lot!

Bell-head

Mumified Monk

Destination: Krabi
One thing I realized about Krabi is that the pictures all turned out far better than the actual view. When we were there we were thinking, ah okay this place isn't too bad, but we prefer some of the other islands. The water was a funny color, a lot of jellyfish and worst of all was that the water felt strange against the skin. But when we got home and looked at our pictures we were shocked- are these really our pictures? The water looks a perfect shade of blue, perfect skies, perfect postcard pics!

After arriving in Krabi- I like my hair here :)

Posing along the beach of Koh Phi Phi

Protecting themselves from the ocean's sprays

Emerald Lake (or so it was called)

Fishy fishy fishyyyyyyy

Flowers abloom! - my first long island iced tea :)

Koh Tao and Kanchanaburi

As a year passed by in Bangkok, my friends and I realized that we needed to start exploring. We had already used a year to get accustomed and decided we couldn't afford to lose any more time. And so began our days of what we called "Island Hopping".

Every holiday we got we decided to go to a new destination. And being from Kathmandu (land of mountains and hills) we decided to go to places that we would go to places that we couldn't go to back home, ie the beach!

Our first trip was to the tiny island off of Thailand's mainland- Koh Tao. 

Posing before getting our fins on

First time going snorkeling- how exciting!

Shark Island- here we are looking for the "small" grey sharks that are found lurking in this area

Two Legs Good... Four Legs Better? 

Water Gymnastics

So that was a little summary of our trip to Koh Tao. The most picturesque photographs are all stored away on discs back home in Kathmandu so had to choose from a limited number.

Below are pictures from Kanchanaburi (a small town a few hours West of Bangkok). It is most popular for the Bridge on the River Kwai (on which more than half of the POWs building the bridge during WWII died from diseases and accidents);  Tiger Temple- temple where you can actually pet and take picture next to tigers and The Erawan Waterfall- which consists of 7 layers of waterfalls each more spectacular than the previous.

Of these three attractions we did not make it to the Tiger Temple. Below are some snippets of our trip to Kanchanaburi. Pictures from the War Museum and cemetery have been left out because they just feel too depressing.

On-the-Lake accommodation in Kanchanaburi, Thailand- was super excited when we arrived as I'd never slept in such a place before, but soon realized it's not for those who easily get sea sick. Anyone walking to their room or a boat passing by set off the feeling of 'is it just me or is the room moving?'

On the River Kwai Bridge 

Taking a ferry ride across to a Thai Buddhist temple- the color and the smell of the water was terrible- had to be careful not to get any on you!

At the top of the Erawan Waterfall

Bangkok Daze

Life hardly ever turns out the way you picture it to be. You end up doing things you never dreamed of, you go places you never expect to and you end up with people you never thought you were compatible with. Going to Bangkok for my undergrad was exactly one of those things that I had neither planned for, nor was it something I ever dreamed of. 

Arriving in Bangkok I got off the plane with my tummy doing somersaults wondering what was I thinking! I'm arriving in BANGKOK for my UNDERGRAD!!!! I had always dreamt of going back to the States or going to Australia for college... how did I end up in Bangkok? But at the end of the 3 years I spent in Bangkok I realized Bangkok gave me a different kind of college experience compared to my friends in the countries that I had dreamed of growing up.

The visa we, as students, go to Bangkok under does not allow any kind of work. So...... if you're not busy working; not too busy with studies, what else is there to do than have fun? During those 3 years in Bangkok, I traveled like I'd never traveled before; met all kinds of people I never thought existed in real life and experienced a kind of life I never pictured for myself. 

Well this blog is mostly a picture memoir of my Bangkok days. Hope you enjoy!

View from my room looking out on Rama IV, or Phalam See as they refer to in Bangkok.
I lived quite in the heart of the city with Carrefour and Tesco Lotus near by. I quite enjoyed my stay there as there was always something interesting happening with adorable children, Thai and foreign boxers and I guess the most exciting would have to be the models. 

my VOGUE cover
One of those days we were super bored. Not hot enough to HAVE to leave the room, but hot enough to get WEIRD ideas.... 

Jim Thompson House
Wanting to do all the touristy things (after a year of being in Bangkok) we decided to visit the museums and do some sightseeing. Had interesting antiques and artifacts. And was near MBK :)

Christmas in Bangkok
Christmas is always a very gaudy and colorful affair anywhere, but more so in Bangkok! (Notice the jumpers and shawls- yes it was a rather cool evening mostly like no less than 20 degree Celsius!)

My 23rd Birthday at Saxophone
A birthday I can NEVER forget! (at a VERY nice jazz pub at Victory Monument)

Gypy Days
Recording a tarot session with our very own tipsy gypsy 

Dream World
This was right after I refused to go on the water "rollercoaster" because I didn't want to sit in soaking wet jeans. The very next ride was one which they convinced me would only get a little water on me.... At the end of the ride I could literally ring out my hair, shirt, and jeans!

New Years Eve 2006
My first new years eve with my mom after about 5 years and this had to be the New Years Eve that was shaken up with bombs all over Bangkok!

BUIC International Fair
Our stall at the Bangkok Uni International College International Fair. Yes there were moments of extreme boredom in the EXTREME heat (about 40C) 

Jewelry
An up close pic of some of the jewelry that we were selling at our stall. I just found it pretty :)