On to Bangkok

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Managed to get down to Sairee for dinner of seafood and to see the sunset and the jetty the following night. As you can see the electricity companies are liberal with cable placement. Matthew, you may want to come here to fix them up. The water is a lovely 27c and flat so that a lot of people use surf skis to paddle around.

Michael has completed his EFR (Emergency First Response) and Stress and Rescue course with a few fun dives. Hopefully he has learned how to tell if his son has two broken arms and the difference between someone being drunk and having a stroke. Time will tell. His instructor Jessie was a Kiwi who would be happy to drown an Australian, he is still here so he must have passed. Put in the wrong link it is Alvaro Diving

 (Two of the dive instructors Sasha and Jacque and their dog Mimi)

We swam at the private beach and could go out 100m and still only be 1 metre deep, the water is fantastic.

Became fascinated with the versatility of the moped/Motor cycles carrying three people, babies and best of all dogs. They seemed to enjoy the ride even a fat dog fitted in on the stand.

 

 

Returned to Chumphon by express catamaran ferry and air conditioned bus (Lomprayah), well worth the extra money for the shorter trip and not being on a cattle truck. Chumphon was a bit more lively this time than our previous visit at 2:00 am.

Took the 2^nd class air conditioned night sleeper to Bangkok, which once I had climbed on to the top bunk I was not prepared to come down for the night. Michael was scammed for morning coffee upon getting on the train that night (60 Baht AUD1.80). The fellow promised us coffee in the morning and after receiving payment he just got off the train at Chumphon never to be seen again. We watched a group of Germans go nuts after being scammed and not receiving their coffee. Welcome to Bangkok. We thought our boys would be happy to know that we were scammed just like they predicted.

The usual frantic pace on arriving at the station with tuk tuk drivers and taxis offering the best service. As the Lonely Planet guide pre warns you on so many scams in this place decided to just join the queue and grab a cab. Have checked into the Prince Palace Hotel, which has a special offer and is very nice with air-conditioning, pool and away from the street.  They upgraded our room to an Executive Suite, which I think is rather hilarious considering that we are both unemployed. The street below is hectic with market sellers everywhere. You were right James about inventory control being unknown here.

Recovering from the overnight trip and have walked around the area to get our bearings. We will hit the temples tomorrow.