dazed and confused and bitten....

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ok – I’ve set myself a get fit training schedule. How long will this last? As often as I can I do a 2 ½ mile run (max possible for me in this heat and humidity) and time myself. Did first one this morning – phew. Had to remove a Horned Toad from my training shoe first.
Its interesting. 0700am and the streets are vibrant and full of people. What’s interesting is that this is the morning after the biggest day in their calendar. No alcohol, no hangovers – very productive. Strangely no dogs yapping at my heels though, they were either eaten as part of the festivities or it’s the one day in the year that they are allowed to drink.

Off to Kho Ngai (hai) island today for the weekend, although nearly didn’t make it as we had “James Hunt” taking us to the ferry. This bloke was a liability, his driving was worse than mine, overtaking 3 abreast, accelerating into corners, cutting corners on the wrong side of the road. I kept making over exaggerated stares at the speedo (I was in the front) to try to get a “slow down!” message across. All to no avail. We got to the speedboat in double quick time. Uneventful 40 min crossing to Kho Ngai….
The island has a couple of small resorts but no shops… there was hardly anyone on the island, deserted sandy beaches but the sound of builders building new apartments interfered with the peaceful idyll.
Found a deck chair under a tree by the waters edge and chilled only to be bitten rotten by a host of pesky red ants – little bastards, if its not ants its mossies…. I am just so darned tasty.
In the evening tried to get a drink in the hotels “blue lagoon bar” (comfy chairs right next to the beach) only to find a private function was being held in there. Seemed like a large Thai family reunion. Then things got interesting, they started Karaoking. It seems that the tradition is for every member of the family to have a go. Some of the singing was at best atrocious. If you weren’t looking you could have been forgiven for thinking that a Tom Cat was sliding down a razor blade using its balls as brakes. It did make us chuckle. Then they played an instrumental of “O come all ye faithful” and they’re Buddhists? Very strange. Very friendly people though invited us to join them but we politely declined. I could just see myself doing an impression of the Old Tom.
We wandered up the beach and found a really nice bar that was totally deserted. Had a cold one and a Mai Tai sock blower then home to bed.

My drinking buddy Aaron arrived in the morning (he’s making a video of our Programme). Great bloke. Born in the USA but NOT a Bushite. Drinks for his country.
Fantastic tropical storm this morning over the sea. Took a trek to the other side of the island through dense tropical rainforest followed by coconut plantations…. Didn’t hang about as I didn’t know what was lurking in the undergrowth to bite me. “If we can bite we’ll bite Barry” is the insect worlds mantra it seems.
The other side of the island was even more deserted with a few tin shack houses and a golden beach….
Returned to the hotel safely. In the evening we had a couple in the hotel then back to the beach bar – we all got hammered…. Felt rough this morning for the first time in a while… ended up playing “never have I ever” some US drinking game…. I tried to introduce an English drinking game or 2 but by then we were too gone…

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