To Thailand for Rest

I am currently sitting on the veranda of my grass type bungalow on Koh Mak. My legs are slightly red from a day of tanning and I am content. I have been in Thailand for a week today and want to stay in one place for a while. I had a Spanish online lesson today, a walk on the beach, suntanning on the beach, and basically just lounging around. Swam in the ocean twice and maybe could do that one more time before the day ends. Expect to be seen at one point as the old Canadian guy in bungalow 11.
Left Nepal with a big smile on December 7. It was Election Day there and the roads were illegal to drive on without a special permit. Wasn’t as difficult as I thought to get a bus to the airport and I ended up at the airport 3 1/2 hours early. Expected I might have to walk so I gave myself time in case it happened. Just sat and reminisced about my month in Nepal. Made so many friends but I was ready to move on. I had become uninterested in my travels and knew I needed a break. Landed in Bangkok to be overwhelmed by all that goes on there. Such a busy place it is hard to fathom and keep up. I decided I had 2 main focuses for my 5 days there. Wanted to extend my visa and get my Vietnamese visa. Went down to immigration on December 8 and spent all day there waiting to get my turn in front of the officials. Very anticlimactic as my meeting lasted about 1 minute. Paid some money and my visa was increased to 60 days. So easy and simple. I met for supper that night with Surachat and Kwan, whom I was on tour in Tibet with. Had a great night with them. Good to catch up with friends. They live in Bangkok, so it was easy. Got up late on December 9 to tackle my Vietnam visa. Took me about 15 minutes to apply. Thought it was more involved. I now had the rest of the day to do stuff, so I went for a big walk, cruised down to Sumhkavit Road (racy part of town) and just walked around. Wanted to see what was happening down there. Turned out everything was closed, so I just walked until I found a place for a beer and some food. Had a couple of beer and people watched before walking back to the hostel. Interesting but not really. Was sitting outside of the hostel having a beer and chatting with people when a group suggested we go to Khao San Road. Big bar strip. We went down there and bar hopped until we couldn’t anymore. Then a couple of people went for massages while the rest just hung out. Got home at 6:30 and not in the best shape. Ruined my whole Sunday, as I didn’t get up until 1:30 and just lounged around for the rest. Went to bed early and vowed not to do that again. December 11 was a day I had scheduled a lunch with Surachat and a dinner with my 2 Scottish friends with whom I travelled with in Mongolia (Phil and Anne Marie). Waited all morning to hear from Surachat. He finally responded and cancelled. I thought I am going shopping. Needed a new lock for my pack. I had it on my locker but the key wouldn’t go in today so I had it cut off. Off to the local mall I went. Had a good afternoon just cruising the malls looking at things. Got back in time to meet Phil and Anne Marie at the Metro. Off for supper and lots of laughs. Stayed out until 11. Had decided I would head to Koh Mak in the a.m. Had enough of Bangkok and had gotten everything I wanted done. Took no pictures there and really felt I had just wasted my time there.
Got up early, grabbed some breakfast and then headed to the bus station to catch a bus east. Very easy trip after the Nepal trips. Took the 5 hours it was supposed to and I caught a ferry to the island at 2:30. Had my hostel make a reservation the day before so I knew I had a bungalow reserved. Got to Koh Mak to find the beauty and quiet I need in Thailand. Talked the night away with an American girl and went to bed content with staying here for a while. Got up at 2 to pee and saw an enormous spider in my bathroom. Amalia would have died on the spot. It ran away but later when I went back it was back. Was gone in the morning, but I have closed my packs and my mosquito net has been secured down to make sure I don’t see that guy up close. Just a small issue in a great place!