Some more fun in the sun

Not another trip to the beach! Its midterm week and while all the Thai teachers are administering tests, us foreign teachers are "preparing" our grades. To give you a better idea, preparing grades took all of 2 hours on Monday and after that theres been a lot of killing time online and chatting. The week also had a little 'maybe I should make some lesson plans' followed by finishing the lesson plan in 5 minutes and back to internet time. So come friday people have started to just sign in and leave and I join them because I've got a vacation I'm late for.

*Disclaimer: some photos were taken on my phone and therefore not as great quality. Prepare yourselves.

Sometimes I like how borderline sketchy things are here. 

The welcoming woman of the sea

They're just two guys and they're having a good time

I felt really bad taking this photo, like they're just people

I liked that he had an iPod though, why shouldn't monks get iPods?

Koh Samet is actually a pretty cool place. It gets a bad rap because its not the paradise that Koh Phi Phi is, but the sand was beautifully white and super soft. There were great places to eat and some cool night life. We didn't even leave our area of the island, so I can only imagine everything else that is available.

Our 'hotel' (it was more of a hostel that provided a personal room) was kind of hard to find, but we eventually found it. It was a pretty nice place. I used to assume all hotels had matching linens, but it seems I was mistaken. Its the nice hotels that have matching linens. Luckily the hot water worked! In addition on the top level was a random hang out area that I'm not sure was for us, but I spent a good amount of time using the wifi in the hammock.

We stayed right by the pier and the street that led to the beach was actually pretty cute. It was narrow with shops and homes and restaurants all the way down until you enter the national park.

The epitome of Thailand

There was an additional 7/11 directly to the left, but it didn't fit in the photo

Scooter City

I love the tree planters everywhere here

Used the zoom and caught this cutie in action

The number one means of cooking here in Thailand

Things were a little pricier, by pricer I mean I payed $1.50 for a bowl of pad thai instead of $1.20. Super rough right? The entirety of Saturday was spent laying on the beach reading and occasionally swimming and of course eating. It was beautiful.

The initial setting of the sun on the first night

What up dog?

Coconuts are my life

All of the 'vendors' had these basket carriers that they walked down the beach with

Some even had grills in one basket and meat and veggies in the other

This guys job must be such a drag

The nights were super fun. We started by going to dinner at a restaurant called Red Ginger (its on tripadvisor its that good). The owner is a Canadian guy who was so cool. He was walking around with no shirt on talking to each table individually, asking about their day and what they were thinking of ordering. Such a great guy. He is married to a Thai woman who was really nice and they have a little daughter who was the cutest thing ever. She just watched Disney Jr. the whole time we were eating and made friends with the other little kids eating.

!!!!!!!

This doesn't look anywhere near as good as it was

Ribs with mashed potatoes and coleslaw

A bad photo of the best salad of all!

Greens with mango, asian pear, bell pepper, and get this… grilled goat cheese rounds!

Divine.

After this we went to find a bar, there were tons on the beach. We chose one that was complete with mats all down the beach. On top of the mats were little pads for everyone to sit on and short tables. Then all of a sudden some guy on the stage starts twirling a bottle that is on fire. Like wait what?! A fire show?! Cool! It progressively got cooler and cooler until there were ten guys with fire batons and then progressed to fire limbo and jumping through a ring of fire. The best part was how casual it all was. Like yeah sure small person, try running through this ring of fire without signing any sort of release form, we don't mind if you burn yourself or sue us.

The scariest moment of my life

The 'Firemen' were really strong

Sorry Johnny Cash it seems you're the only one who fell into the burning ring of fire

Harry Potter gone clubbing

Yeah I ate that bug

And the night ends with our main man… Banana pancake man

I was surprised at how easy it was to get to the island and back. Special shout out to Parker for always helping me get places. Overall a super fun trip. How could it not be fun though when theres excellent food, fresh fruit and the beach?