Ko Tao has been pretty sweet since Ive been here. Beautiful weather, beautiful paradise. Apparantly its direct translation is ‘Turtle Island’ Can anyone tell me if the turtles were still here in the mid nineties before this place developed?

My last post might have sounded a bit flat but I can tell you the last day or two (what day is it?) has gone off. For a start I jumped back on the Horse. Delia, youd have be proud of me chugging around the island on a Red Rocket. Last time I tried to ride a motorbike I came off, but neccessity got me back on. I would never ride a bike in Bangkok. Its organised chaos there – the road rules are more like a guide. I remember been in a tuk tuk on my first day merging into head-on traffic!
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Its been one wild ride so far and I can hardly say its begun. So much has happened since my last post. Ive certainly been challenged and tested and its crossed my mind once or twice that I might have bitten off more than I can chew. I’m just been honest, these are after all stream of consciousness posts. Ive got a few words ringing on my ears though (scott, treans, marcus) about living like a traveller. The hardest thing for me is not having that one person around to bounce conversations, thoughts etc off. As one couple I met both said “I’d get lonely travelling by myself”. 2 is definitely a number I see a lot of around.
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I’ve made it through the first few hoops of Bangkok. From the airport took a cab into the madness of Th Khao San, taxiing through the mad night life. I was happy enough to get a comfortable hotel, pay far too much (800b), and settle in. Lighting and thunder crackled through the night.

The next morning after breakfast (provided) I dared the streets of Koh San Rd. Ok, Im being dramatic but for me it was another world – sights, sounds and smells overloading the senses. Speaking to a friendly Thai along the way he suggested some sights around town. Flagging down a government Tuk tuk my exhausting morning took off.

The best break on this wee trip was to get to the TAT (thai authority for tourism) and set up an agenda for the next few weeks. Tomorrow pm I leave for Ko Tao for a 5 day dive course, followed by Ko Samui and the Full moon party on Ko png yan (sp). I did get to see the Golden Buddha temples (usually closed to tourists – Im told..). At the very least Im getting out of Bangkok soon for greater Thailand, and if Ive learnt one thing talking to people its take the government services, not the offers of touts. Everything of course is more effort than it should be but my pigeon english is improving. No shopping, no ladies!