Goodbye Hello

As I sit on a party coach next to a group from Hackney on the way to Koh Samui a party island, the emotional farewell of my mother is a distant memory.

Ao Nang with its beauty beaches, amazing sunsets, mouth watering food, endless cocktails and the best company I could of hoped for, my Christmas holiday was the best ever; but there were several hiccups & random moments.

Going on holiday means going out for meals together and by I mean together I mean eating at the same time. Restaraunts in Thailand cannot seem to get the hang of bringing out food out at the same time and you all end up eating one after the other or visa versa. One restaraunt called Jeannette's restaraunt which my mum insisted we went in forgot mine and Sams meal, but we still managed to finish it before the other two. Being asked where McDonald's by an American person was very surreal in Thailand, but then again there is like 5 Irish bars, Tesco, Burger King and a McDonald's locally.

As I arrived a day before the others I explored the area and took Jo and Sam to a bar I had been to, little did they know it was a pole dancing club. When we walked in Jo was shocked to say the least to find a couple getting freaky on the sofa. When we walked in also Jo was approached by a couple of dancers with Adam's apples!!! We stayed for a couple of drinks and moved on but it was definitely an experience.

Christmas Day consisted of a very British morning; McDonald's for breakfast and waking up with a hangover. The Christmas tree was a Christmas chair wrapped with tinsel and presents underneath and the new game which we had to try called pie face. The only bit that was different was the sweet chilli & pepper lobster and the coconut

rum at the beach with a game of football.

On Boxing Day we went on a 4 islands trip. The first island had monkeys and a random cave with random structures of Cocks in (see picture). The second island was where we did some snorkelling which was going well until some Aussie know it all told me not to stand on the coral because it ruins it and you will hurt yourself. I just said 'I'll be careful thanks' and carried on having a good time. The third island Sam offered pineapple to a group of Japanese and became a local celebrity and was in 1000000 selfies with them. The fourth island took a while as every time Jo saw a cat or kitten we had to stop for 10 minutes.

One of the evenings I put way too much toilet paper down the toilet for some reason, the toilet decided to get blocked. I decided to be the hero and try and fix it myself so I tried to flush it 2 or 3 times but that didn't work. There wasn't a plunger or any sticks in the room but luckily I remembered there was an umbrella in the wardrobe. This just made it worse and the water started to overflow onto the floor, so I had to get some help. The hotel guy came and brought the plunger and done it in 20 second, so I tipped him 40 baht which is nearly a pound and he left with a dodgy smile; job done!!!

After many meals with bad service, many cocktails, many laughs, many walks, lots of seafood, lots of cocktails, lots of Changs, lots of sunbathing & more cocktails.... It was time to say an emotional farewell. Which involved my mum crying and staring at Jo for a very

long time, like she wouldn't see her for 5 years.

After a night in Phuket town to sort my visa out it was time for the trip to Koh Samui!!! Straight away I met people from Hackneeey on the bus, which did amuse me at 8am in the morning. The boat ride was very very very choppy and many people were rushing to the toilets, including the women next to me who was nearly sick in her straw hat. I normally don't mind boat journeys but this was a bumpy one. I was even planning my escape route in my head and what window to smash with the fire extinguisher in case we did sink and what door to run to. Luckily we did arrive and Koh Samui was the first stop of the islands and my bag was one of the first to come off. However after stepping off the boat it was pouring down with rain!!!!!

After being bombarded with 100s of taxi companies charging 20 quid to go 30 minutes down the road, I got on a local bus which cost me 2 pound and dropped me off outside my bungalow on the beach. Tomorrow night is the Full Moon Party at Koh Phangnan which I have heard so much about, bring it on!!

Happy New Year!!!