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TonyT's 8th Thailand blog:
A month in and around the country:
March - April 2025.
Page 3
Phanom Dong Rak & Bak Dai village (continued)
SUNDAY 30th:
Bit of a "Sunday" feel about this morning. Everything seemed to be in slow motion made worse by the high humidity giving an oppressive feel. A lengthy swim in the new pool helped wake me up and ready for breakfast.
Several "helpers" were here today with their families. As usual, very local people with no English spoken or understood. Very little of note happened until the evening.
Just after 16:30, the Rasithong family arrived. These are Aom's aunt, uncle and cousins and their three kids. Aom's two cousins, Mee and his wife, Mon were Best-man and Bridesmaid at our Thai wedding last year and are very good friends; really good to meet up with them again.
Lots and lots of food and drink all evening with lots of laughter; all good stuff.
It looks kike the end of the very hot sunny weather; for now anyway. By late evening it became very overcast and humid and by 2am the thunder & lightning along with torrential rain carried on until dawn. This weather gradually petered out but it remained humid and unsettled.
It remained dry enough for the usual al-fresco breakfast though.
It was time for brother-in-law, Joe to return to University in Korat so we gave him a lift to the bus station in Prasat.
A bit more shopping for basics in the big Lotus's store followed by an Amazon coffee and back home for a swim in the pool.
On these visits to Thailand we inevitably go off on a true holiday to one of the islands. This year our plan was to go to Ko Tao again. We were last there in 2017 and enjoyed it immensely. This would have entailed a 13 hour drive to Chumphon to catch the ferry to Ko Tao with an overnight stop; do-able with two drivers. In the event we thought better of it as the weather forecast for the Chumphon region was not too good, plus there would be a chance of the ferry not running if the seas were rough. A quick re-think and we decided on Ko Chang again. The reason for this was that it was not only half the distance to travel, it also meant we could take the truck onto Ko Chang via the big Ro-Ro ferry and make full use of it whilst there. The same as we did back in 2022.
Bit of a "Sunday" feel about this morning. Everything seemed to be in slow motion made worse by the high humidity giving an oppressive feel. A lengthy swim in the new pool helped wake me up and ready for breakfast.
Several "helpers" were here today with their families. As usual, very local people with no English spoken or understood. Very little of note happened until the evening.
Just after 16:30, the Rasithong family arrived. These are Aom's aunt, uncle and cousins and their three kids. Aom's two cousins, Mee and his wife, Mon were Best-man and Bridesmaid at our Thai wedding last year and are very good friends; really good to meet up with them again.
Lots and lots of food and drink all evening with lots of laughter; all good stuff.
It looks kike the end of the very hot sunny weather; for now anyway. By late evening it became very overcast and humid and by 2am the thunder & lightning along with torrential rain carried on until dawn. This weather gradually petered out but it remained humid and unsettled.
It remained dry enough for the usual al-fresco breakfast though.
It was time for brother-in-law, Joe to return to University in Korat so we gave him a lift to the bus station in Prasat.
A bit more shopping for basics in the big Lotus's store followed by an Amazon coffee and back home for a swim in the pool.
On these visits to Thailand we inevitably go off on a true holiday to one of the islands. This year our plan was to go to Ko Tao again. We were last there in 2017 and enjoyed it immensely. This would have entailed a 13 hour drive to Chumphon to catch the ferry to Ko Tao with an overnight stop; do-able with two drivers. In the event we thought better of it as the weather forecast for the Chumphon region was not too good, plus there would be a chance of the ferry not running if the seas were rough. A quick re-think and we decided on Ko Chang again. The reason for this was that it was not only half the distance to travel, it also meant we could take the truck onto Ko Chang via the big Ro-Ro ferry and make full use of it whilst there. The same as we did back in 2022.
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TOP LEFT: Breakfast
TOP RIGHT: Dinner. Left to right: Yours truly; Aom's aunt; Mon & Mee (our bestman and bridesmaid at our wedding).
2nd ROW LEFT: The author with his father-in-law, Chet.
2nd ROW RIGHT: Fried locust/beetles; the stuff I cannot (won't) eat.
MONDAY 31st MARCH: The area around our original, preferred, island of Ko Tao was very unsettled. Getting to Ko Tao entailed a 13-hour drive to Chumphon with an overnight stopover; with a return trip the same. It is a 6-hour drive to near Trat; half the distance. We can take the truck onto Ko Chang and have full use of it whilst on the island.
So, that's it... all booked up at the KC Grande Resort for a 9 day stay and back in time to spend Songkran with our family. TOP LEFT: Red Woods ants. They can give a nasty bite. TOP RIGHT: Solar panels. Only a few to begin with; lots more soon. 2nd ROW LEFT: The poor bird which was entangled in netting. Aom's efforts released it after quite some time. 2nd ROW RIGHT: One of my favourite fruits; pomelo (also known as shaddock or pummelo) and is the largest citrus fruit. 3rd ROW LEFT: "Insect food" as I call it. Not to my tste at all. 3rd ROW RIGHT: I was amazed when young son, Jack sampled these bugs and actually liked them;... over to you, son. BOTTOM: Jack and his favorite farm animals; just one of several cats.
Pleasantly cool this morning by Thai standards but still in the mid to high 20's.
Decision day. Where do we go for a vacation?
After much consideration, we decided on a return to Ko Chang; we last stayed there in 2022 and explored most of the island. The reasons for this choice of holiday were as follows:-
The rest of this day was largely uneventful. Some swimming and Aom freeing a trapped bird which had become entangled in some netting.
Evening ended up with a bit of a drinking session with my in-laws and a few beers were disposed of.
TUESDAY APRIL 1st:
The morning was decidedly cool if not cold by Thai standards; just on 20°C. It was strange to see the Thai folk all swaddled up in warm clothing whilst I found it extremely pleasant.
It didn't last long though as just on 11-am the sun appeared and sent the temperature back into the mid 30's.
Started getting the pick-up truck ready for out trip. Father-in-law, Chet took it off for an in-and-out clean-up. Aom off to pick up the certificate she earned last week and with her mother in tow there'll be some shopping involved.
I stayed behind a started sorting out things to take on our island jaunt.
