Check out this guy's blog - it's AWESOME!
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/llew/annapurna-circuit-2-the-family-edition.html
Monday, September 29, 2008
Cooking with Than
Last week one of the cooks, Than (same name as one of the teachers) let me help her cook dinner. She lives in one of the room houses near me and every night she goes over to Sri's which is in the same group of houses and cooks dinner for Uncle Jew, Sri, herself, her boyfriend and sometimes me.
This dish is "like a carrot...but not carrot." Basically it soaks (and it's either really salty or been soaked in salt). She kept pointing to the salt and to the "non-carrot" saying "same-same." We chopped it, fried it in oil and garlic and added a scrambled egg. It was YUMMY. I had dinner with them that night.
Than has a wicked sense of humor - like Kru Than but different. I love laughing with them.
This dish is "like a carrot...but not carrot." Basically it soaks (and it's either really salty or been soaked in salt). She kept pointing to the salt and to the "non-carrot" saying "same-same." We chopped it, fried it in oil and garlic and added a scrambled egg. It was YUMMY. I had dinner with them that night.
Than has a wicked sense of humor - like Kru Than but different. I love laughing with them.
The fair last Thursday
This is Nong "My" - she sat with me in the stands for a bit.
Various pics from the parade as it started out...
Marching through town... these aren't in order
Yaowawit Band
Various pics from the parade as it started out...
Marching through town... these aren't in order
Yaowawit Band
Websited for Annapurna info and pics...
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/867425/how_to_prepare_and_pack_for_the_annapurna.html?page=2
http://www.stephentapply.com/galleries.htm
http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/04-08/zen-and-the-art-of-slow-trekking-annapurna-circuit-nepal.html
http://baidam.com/annapurna.htm
I'm booking my flight from Bangkok to Nepal today. I will leave Bangkok October 19 and return November 20. I won't be taking my laptop so I probably won't be able to post my pics for a month. I'm also not sure how much internet access I will have there. I could be out of touch for 3 weeks but I'm not entirely sure. There is a lot of tourist traffic through Annapurna so who knows.
I will stay in Kathmandu for 3-4 days getting my trekking permit and information and anything I need for the trip and then take a bus to Pokhara where the trek begins. I will need a few days at the end of the trip for purchasing my visa for returning to Thailand as well. Then back to Yaowawit... fit and trim as Uncle Jew says!
http://www.stephentapply.com/galleries.htm
http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/04-08/zen-and-the-art-of-slow-trekking-annapurna-circuit-nepal.html
http://baidam.com/annapurna.htm
I'm booking my flight from Bangkok to Nepal today. I will leave Bangkok October 19 and return November 20. I won't be taking my laptop so I probably won't be able to post my pics for a month. I'm also not sure how much internet access I will have there. I could be out of touch for 3 weeks but I'm not entirely sure. There is a lot of tourist traffic through Annapurna so who knows.
I will stay in Kathmandu for 3-4 days getting my trekking permit and information and anything I need for the trip and then take a bus to Pokhara where the trek begins. I will need a few days at the end of the trip for purchasing my visa for returning to Thailand as well. Then back to Yaowawit... fit and trim as Uncle Jew says!
My other students
This is a picture of the teacher and one of the classes I teach at the local primary school. They were set up next to Yaowawit School for the cooking competition. These are 5th graders.
The making of Kanomtom and Kanomtian
Each school has the recipes and information what they are making on a table or board. This is Yaowawit's:
Our children were making two dishes. Kanomtom and Kanomtiam. Kanomtom is sticky rice with beans wrapped in kapao leaf which is a yellow and green leaf. Kanomtiam is a peanut sticky goo that is really good, the consistency is similar to caramel but tastes of peanuts. This is wrapped in a piece of banana leaf which is the dark green leaf. The day prior to the exhibit the students and teachers spent a lot of time cutting the banana leaves to just the right sizes and prepared the ingredients. I helped decorate the boards.
The ingredients and brochures with recipes are on the table. This is a picture of the ingredients for Kanomtiam (peanut goo).
The children are making each of the dishes at tables behind the presentation table. Once enough of these are ready they are steamed on a propane cooker behind the tent which is manned by a couple of the boys.
The kids at this table are making the Kanomtian.
These ones are making the Kanomtom.
Kanomtom (the sticky rice and beans to the left are what we squished into these. They may look easy but I had a hard time making the folds right! The ones with the knot on the stick end are the ones I made.
There was a woman taking pictures (I think they are from Phuket if I understood her right - maybe from a local newspaper or another school?). Kru Apple was teaching me how to fold the kapao leaf and this woman took a break from pictures to show me as well. Her other photographer took pictures of us... those pictures probably turned out much better as they had some cool cameras!
Picture of me and Kru Than (sounds like "Dan"). She's got a wicked sense of humor... she's the one teaching me all the wrong words in Thai!
The final product. The lighter yellow leaves have a sticky rice and bean mix. The dark green ones have a peanut pasty goo that is really good. The kids placed 3rd.
Our children were making two dishes. Kanomtom and Kanomtiam. Kanomtom is sticky rice with beans wrapped in kapao leaf which is a yellow and green leaf. Kanomtiam is a peanut sticky goo that is really good, the consistency is similar to caramel but tastes of peanuts. This is wrapped in a piece of banana leaf which is the dark green leaf. The day prior to the exhibit the students and teachers spent a lot of time cutting the banana leaves to just the right sizes and prepared the ingredients. I helped decorate the boards.
The ingredients and brochures with recipes are on the table. This is a picture of the ingredients for Kanomtiam (peanut goo).
The children are making each of the dishes at tables behind the presentation table. Once enough of these are ready they are steamed on a propane cooker behind the tent which is manned by a couple of the boys.
The kids at this table are making the Kanomtian.
These ones are making the Kanomtom.
Kanomtom (the sticky rice and beans to the left are what we squished into these. They may look easy but I had a hard time making the folds right! The ones with the knot on the stick end are the ones I made.
There was a woman taking pictures (I think they are from Phuket if I understood her right - maybe from a local newspaper or another school?). Kru Apple was teaching me how to fold the kapao leaf and this woman took a break from pictures to show me as well. Her other photographer took pictures of us... those pictures probably turned out much better as they had some cool cameras!
Picture of me and Kru Than (sounds like "Dan"). She's got a wicked sense of humor... she's the one teaching me all the wrong words in Thai!
The final product. The lighter yellow leaves have a sticky rice and bean mix. The dark green ones have a peanut pasty goo that is really good. The kids placed 3rd.
Thursday and Friday last week
I'll post pics of the fair another day... it's taking hours to load pics tonight and I'm getting eaten alive...
What's missing is the band and the cooking competition.
Have a fab week!
What's missing is the band and the cooking competition.
Have a fab week!
Sunday: a funeral, an aquarium and the shooting range!
Sunday Pi Jew woke me up at 6:40 telling me they were going to another province. The father of one of the staff had died and they forgot to tell me they were going to the funeral on Sunday and I was invited. I had 20 minutes to shower and be ready. I hadn't slept well because I was sporting a headache and a sore throat but thought I'd like to go with.
There were about 12 or so kids and about 15 adults. All of us wore black (or brown or white if we didn't have black). The kids rode in the back of the little Mazda truck and the cab had about 5 people in it. I rode in a big van that had video. I figured out a little later that this is actually a tour van that we hired for this trip.
We drove 4.5 hours to the city of Trang which is south along the Andaman Sea. We made an appearance. The family provided a lunch for friends and relatives (they invite a lot of people). The family members wear black with a white sash and have one or two pieces of white clothed pinned on their black shirt. I didn't take any pictures as I didn't think it would be appropriate. The coffin was under another tent with candles lit. The lunch area was in the street in front of the house under huge tents. We only stayed for lunch. The ceremony would be late that evening when a monk would perform a service. I'm not sure what the service entails.
We dropped off one of the little kids at their home on a rubber plantation and then headed to an aquarium. The aquarium is at a fisheries university. Pi Wit (headmaster) informed me that many of the universities in southern Thailand are no longer popular.
The aquarium cost 20 baht each and was about 500 meters worth of fish tanks and information. We are spoiled with the huge aquarium in Seattle. At the beginning of the aquarium is a "stuffed" shark. Although it doesn't look like a shark. The preservation techniques don't seem to have preserved the shape of the shark. It's also no sectioned off so I almost walked into the tail which I'm sure would have damaged it! We stayed for about 30 - 60 minutes.
On the drive north we stopped at a shooting range. YES... I came all the way to Thailand... to shoot a hand gun! Thui has a friend that owns the shooting range so they chatted while the children had target practice. Purdy fun!
From there we went to Tesco... this is the big excitement here... a small shopping mall with a big grocery store somewhat like Fred Meyers but smaller. I have been craving chips and salt so YAY! I bought some Pringles and other chips and sweets too of course!
Dinner was at a local restaurant (same as the others... side of the road with a lot of tables.
We got back to Yaowawit by about 9:00 pm. I was trying not to puke the last two hours in the car. I felt like I was fighting a sinus cold and my throat hurt and I was nauseous. Yippee... go figure... and then last night I had the stomach problems kick in every few hours so today was a very low key day.
Dinner... fish, squid, clams, pork, boiled eggs, rice, cucumber and some kind of edible leaves... and rice.
THANK GOODNESS... COFFEE!
Shopping!!!
Some chic at the shooting range...
The "shark" and three of our students.
Pics of all of us outside the aquarium.
There were about 12 or so kids and about 15 adults. All of us wore black (or brown or white if we didn't have black). The kids rode in the back of the little Mazda truck and the cab had about 5 people in it. I rode in a big van that had video. I figured out a little later that this is actually a tour van that we hired for this trip.
We drove 4.5 hours to the city of Trang which is south along the Andaman Sea. We made an appearance. The family provided a lunch for friends and relatives (they invite a lot of people). The family members wear black with a white sash and have one or two pieces of white clothed pinned on their black shirt. I didn't take any pictures as I didn't think it would be appropriate. The coffin was under another tent with candles lit. The lunch area was in the street in front of the house under huge tents. We only stayed for lunch. The ceremony would be late that evening when a monk would perform a service. I'm not sure what the service entails.
We dropped off one of the little kids at their home on a rubber plantation and then headed to an aquarium. The aquarium is at a fisheries university. Pi Wit (headmaster) informed me that many of the universities in southern Thailand are no longer popular.
The aquarium cost 20 baht each and was about 500 meters worth of fish tanks and information. We are spoiled with the huge aquarium in Seattle. At the beginning of the aquarium is a "stuffed" shark. Although it doesn't look like a shark. The preservation techniques don't seem to have preserved the shape of the shark. It's also no sectioned off so I almost walked into the tail which I'm sure would have damaged it! We stayed for about 30 - 60 minutes.
On the drive north we stopped at a shooting range. YES... I came all the way to Thailand... to shoot a hand gun! Thui has a friend that owns the shooting range so they chatted while the children had target practice. Purdy fun!
From there we went to Tesco... this is the big excitement here... a small shopping mall with a big grocery store somewhat like Fred Meyers but smaller. I have been craving chips and salt so YAY! I bought some Pringles and other chips and sweets too of course!
Dinner was at a local restaurant (same as the others... side of the road with a lot of tables.
We got back to Yaowawit by about 9:00 pm. I was trying not to puke the last two hours in the car. I felt like I was fighting a sinus cold and my throat hurt and I was nauseous. Yippee... go figure... and then last night I had the stomach problems kick in every few hours so today was a very low key day.
Dinner... fish, squid, clams, pork, boiled eggs, rice, cucumber and some kind of edible leaves... and rice.
THANK GOODNESS... COFFEE!
Shopping!!!
Some chic at the shooting range...
The "shark" and three of our students.
Pics of all of us outside the aquarium.
Pictures... let's try this again...
Gone fishing...
You guessed it... bugs. Nice and crunchy, want some?
Typical market stuff but at night at the fair
The big inflatable toys
Target practice
Several of the different performers/performances:
Yaowawit teachers managing the flowers.
Kru Joyann... who??
Our girls waiting to dance...
The younger girls dance.
The older three girls after their performance.
I tried posting a video of the girls dancing and for some reason it won't take tonight...
You guessed it... bugs. Nice and crunchy, want some?
Typical market stuff but at night at the fair
The big inflatable toys
Target practice
Several of the different performers/performances:
Yaowawit teachers managing the flowers.
Kru Joyann... who??
Our girls waiting to dance...
The younger girls dance.
The older three girls after their performance.
I tried posting a video of the girls dancing and for some reason it won't take tonight...
quote
From Oprah...
I'm finding that my connections with people are making this a lot of fun and when I'm not connecting... I'm not having as much fun. I miss you guys.
I've been getting to know the other teachers and staff and they are a hoot! Language barrier and all! I think I'm coming out of the stage of "I'm on the next flight home!"
Joyann
| ...we know from daily life that we exist for other people first of all for whose smiles and well-being our own happiness depends. —Albert Einstein |
I'm finding that my connections with people are making this a lot of fun and when I'm not connecting... I'm not having as much fun. I miss you guys.
I've been getting to know the other teachers and staff and they are a hoot! Language barrier and all! I think I'm coming out of the stage of "I'm on the next flight home!"
Joyann
Sick
I was hoping to post pics and update you all today but I've been sick and didn't get out of bed until about 1:30. I don't feel like spending 3 hours on the computer or like hauling my laptop up the hill. (I know, I know... whine... it's not that heavy... but waahhhh!! I don't feel good)! I've got some stomach crud as well as a sinus cold so I won't post much.
I'm dying to tell you about my weekend though so I'm sure I'll post soon.
Love and hugs,
jaz
I'm dying to tell you about my weekend though so I'm sure I'll post soon.
Love and hugs,
jaz
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Pics from the fair
Okay... now my pics are locking too so... I'll have to try this another time. Sorry gang!
One of the older girls during their dance.
Thui (cook and wife of the headmaster) and her son Wasin. Thui is a beautiful woman without makeup and for this night she had makeup and was even more beautiful.
One of the older girls during their dance.
Thui (cook and wife of the headmaster) and her son Wasin. Thui is a beautiful woman without makeup and for this night she had makeup and was even more beautiful.
Charlene... this one's for you!
I finally have a picture AND video clip for you of a shiny Thai lady boy. And yes... they are beautiful young men who are definitely just as beautiful as the Thai women. The young man in yellow was asked up on stage by the "comedians" and he was fun. The group was mostly antagonizing the short man in white. These men were obviously not gay but they seem accepting of this young gay man and they had a good time mocking the short straight guy.
Kapong Festival
Okay so I've spent over an hour trying to get a video to post and I'm now deleting it and just posting the script. I didn't get to download pics cuz I was trying to get this video clip in! ARGH.
Thursday Yaowawit’s marching band performed very well! They had the honor of leading a parade. Within the parade various Thais were competing with their costumes and some kind of bamboo contraption that is carried by about 20 men. I don't really understand what this was but it was really beautiful and cool. There were also some Indian individuals in the parade, their ensemble included two elephants and Indian women in saris and men playing drums. I'm not sure what else this was simply because I couldn't fully understand the Thai descriptions. I did enjoy the show though. Very colorful and beautiful!
Friday I was expecting to go to the fair about 4:00 pm but while I was lounging in my room at 9:00 am, a few of the teachers came down the hill on their motorbikes yelling my name... apparently some of our younger students were competing in a traditional cooking exhibit. They make sweets and wrap them in banana leaves or palm leaves (I forget which) and then steam them. One of these is a delicious peanut butter sticky ball (YUM!) and the other was a sticky rice and bean mix stuffed into one of the folded yellow and green leaves. This tasted grate as well.
This lasted a bit so towards four of the other teachers and I walked from the market area (where the fair is being held) about a block to one of the local hair dressers. My hair's been driving me nuts so I got another hair cut. (80 baht for the curious ~ $2.50). :-) I realized what the problem is... my hair does not like this climate and it basically curls the wrong way and fluffs out and looks like crap. The Thai women have beautiful long straight hair and don't have to use any gels to make it look good. Hmm... I found out why. They pay 1000 - 2000 Thai baht and have it straightened about every 1 - 2 years! Cool.
Anyways, afterwards we found out that Yaowawit placed 3rd with the treat competition. I think there may have only been 4-5 schools though! One of the others was students from the class I teach at the local primary school. It was fun seeing them again. I won't see them until "next term."
By the time we got back I was exhausted and crashed for a few. I was also pretty dehydrated! The last couple of days have been a lot warmer and there's been a lot less rain as well. I think I missed the sun. I've been less mopey this week so maybe the weather was part of it! And I'm getting to enjoy some of the other teachers and people here too which I think makes a huge difference.
Friday we hit the fair again at 8:00 pm for the dancing and singing competitions. We had two groups of girls performing and I found out that the cook Thui (the one who generously invited me north for part of the holiday) was singing. Thui was incredible and ended up winning a huge trophy. One of the older girls also did a solo in a gorgeous evening gown. Our dancers performed really well. I'm not sure if they got prizes or not. Again, if the video clips are short enough I'll post them.
When someone performs, friends and people in the audience that enjoyed the performance will often come up to the stage and give the performer(s) flowers. For this event a large number of plastic flowers were strong on ribbons and Yaowawit teachers were in charge of organizing and "selling" these. Once the performer(s) received their flowers (an honor) the plastic flowers were then brought back to be re-used for the next contestant's admirers. The flowers inevitably would be quite tangled within the 5 minutes they were used and would need to be regrouped. One string of flowers cost 10 baht.
After a bit I disappeared into the fair market area. It reminds me of what I think a small town fair in the US would be like. A huge number of vendors selling things, vast quantities and varieties of things to eat (unfortunately there is no bratwurst to be had here - SO sad)! I bought a couple sweet things and then walked over to where a movie was playing - yay for me - it had English subtitles. There were booths where people could shoot things and win prizes. There was a booth where you could "fish" out what looks like a bottle cap but has a note inside designating your prize. There was also a huge inflatable play thing that the kids were having fun on... sounds like your normal fair, eh? Although I didn't see any animal exhibits. I DID see some fried bugs though! "You like?" There was also Thai boxing (which I briefly saw before I had to get back to the performance) as well as a drinking area and stage for dancing. (Looked like the typical beer garden minus the ropes). :-)
I went back to the fair this afternoon with Uncle Jew, Thui and her son Wasin, Than (the other cook, and a couple of gals I know but can't remember their names. We just walked around - they bought stuff - I bought melon bubble tea (CHARLENE - yes - it's the same flavor as the S. Korea popsicles! I'm in heaven!). I didn't buy much. Not much in the way of cool souvenirs.
All in all... a fun fair and it reminded me in some ways of home.
Thursday Yaowawit’s marching band performed very well! They had the honor of leading a parade. Within the parade various Thais were competing with their costumes and some kind of bamboo contraption that is carried by about 20 men. I don't really understand what this was but it was really beautiful and cool. There were also some Indian individuals in the parade, their ensemble included two elephants and Indian women in saris and men playing drums. I'm not sure what else this was simply because I couldn't fully understand the Thai descriptions. I did enjoy the show though. Very colorful and beautiful!
Friday I was expecting to go to the fair about 4:00 pm but while I was lounging in my room at 9:00 am, a few of the teachers came down the hill on their motorbikes yelling my name... apparently some of our younger students were competing in a traditional cooking exhibit. They make sweets and wrap them in banana leaves or palm leaves (I forget which) and then steam them. One of these is a delicious peanut butter sticky ball (YUM!) and the other was a sticky rice and bean mix stuffed into one of the folded yellow and green leaves. This tasted grate as well.
This lasted a bit so towards four of the other teachers and I walked from the market area (where the fair is being held) about a block to one of the local hair dressers. My hair's been driving me nuts so I got another hair cut. (80 baht for the curious ~ $2.50). :-) I realized what the problem is... my hair does not like this climate and it basically curls the wrong way and fluffs out and looks like crap. The Thai women have beautiful long straight hair and don't have to use any gels to make it look good. Hmm... I found out why. They pay 1000 - 2000 Thai baht and have it straightened about every 1 - 2 years! Cool.
Anyways, afterwards we found out that Yaowawit placed 3rd with the treat competition. I think there may have only been 4-5 schools though! One of the others was students from the class I teach at the local primary school. It was fun seeing them again. I won't see them until "next term."
By the time we got back I was exhausted and crashed for a few. I was also pretty dehydrated! The last couple of days have been a lot warmer and there's been a lot less rain as well. I think I missed the sun. I've been less mopey this week so maybe the weather was part of it! And I'm getting to enjoy some of the other teachers and people here too which I think makes a huge difference.
Friday we hit the fair again at 8:00 pm for the dancing and singing competitions. We had two groups of girls performing and I found out that the cook Thui (the one who generously invited me north for part of the holiday) was singing. Thui was incredible and ended up winning a huge trophy. One of the older girls also did a solo in a gorgeous evening gown. Our dancers performed really well. I'm not sure if they got prizes or not. Again, if the video clips are short enough I'll post them.
When someone performs, friends and people in the audience that enjoyed the performance will often come up to the stage and give the performer(s) flowers. For this event a large number of plastic flowers were strong on ribbons and Yaowawit teachers were in charge of organizing and "selling" these. Once the performer(s) received their flowers (an honor) the plastic flowers were then brought back to be re-used for the next contestant's admirers. The flowers inevitably would be quite tangled within the 5 minutes they were used and would need to be regrouped. One string of flowers cost 10 baht.
After a bit I disappeared into the fair market area. It reminds me of what I think a small town fair in the US would be like. A huge number of vendors selling things, vast quantities and varieties of things to eat (unfortunately there is no bratwurst to be had here - SO sad)! I bought a couple sweet things and then walked over to where a movie was playing - yay for me - it had English subtitles. There were booths where people could shoot things and win prizes. There was a booth where you could "fish" out what looks like a bottle cap but has a note inside designating your prize. There was also a huge inflatable play thing that the kids were having fun on... sounds like your normal fair, eh? Although I didn't see any animal exhibits. I DID see some fried bugs though! "You like?" There was also Thai boxing (which I briefly saw before I had to get back to the performance) as well as a drinking area and stage for dancing. (Looked like the typical beer garden minus the ropes). :-)
I went back to the fair this afternoon with Uncle Jew, Thui and her son Wasin, Than (the other cook, and a couple of gals I know but can't remember their names. We just walked around - they bought stuff - I bought melon bubble tea (CHARLENE - yes - it's the same flavor as the S. Korea popsicles! I'm in heaven!). I didn't buy much. Not much in the way of cool souvenirs.
All in all... a fun fair and it reminded me in some ways of home.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Internet! Oooo la la!
It's a Saturday and the internet works at the school! WOW! First time in the whole month!!
YEEEESSSS! YIIIIPPPPPEEEE!
I can actually post blogs, e-mail, research my next stint, get more info on Nepal... coolness.
Nepal update: I'm almost ready to book my ticket. I'll just need to add a few more days and check a couple more logistics.
YEEEESSSS! YIIIIPPPPPEEEE!
I can actually post blogs, e-mail, research my next stint, get more info on Nepal... coolness.
Nepal update: I'm almost ready to book my ticket. I'll just need to add a few more days and check a couple more logistics.
- Correction to my previous posts and e-mails: you cannot see Mount Everest from the Annapurna Circuit (Circus) trek I'm doing - it's a different set of mountains but from what I hear, less difficult and more beautiful. Hmm... it's all relative. They are mountains... they will be beautiful.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Where am I?
I will be staying at Yaowawit for a few more days. The marching band is performing today in the village and there is a big fair tomorrow. Some of our girls will be performing a couple dances. They have worked really hard!
I'll probably head down to Phuket after the weekend.
I'll probably head down to Phuket after the weekend.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Kata Beach and the bus trips home...
These are not really in order.
I went to Kata Beach about 9:00 am on Sunday. I road the bus which was about a block from my guest house. This bus goes from Old Phuket to the Kata and Karon Beach only.
I got back to Old Town about 1:30/2:00 and walked a TON trying to find the international telecommunications building where I can buy my really cheap phone cards. These are 2 baht a minute to call home which is cheaper than local Thai calls (about $4 an hour).
I eventually got the the Phuket Bus Station and caught the 3:00 bus to Phang Nga. Cost was 90 baht for a 90 minute drive. These are really nice touring type of buses (same as the one I caught from Bangkok to Takoa Pa) and they have A/C.
In Phang Nga I caught a "local"-esk bus (no A/C, no cushy seats - like a US school bus but shorter). I forgot to take a picture. This one cost 40 baht for a 45 minute ride (after waiting 30-45 minutes).
So the next three pics are actually from this last bus about 5:30/6:00 pm Sunday from Phang Nga to Kapong, the village near Yaowawit School.
Apparently when I say the word Kapong, the Thais think I'm saying a city near Bangkok so they kept trying to put me on a bus to Bangkok and wanted to charge me 653 baht... I kept saying... no... 30 kilos north to KaPONG, KaPaahhhhng, KaBONG, KAbong... eventually they understood but I still can't say it right!
A nice man on this bus heard me talking and when I said Kapong and Yaowawit School he told the bus driver where I was going. I got off in Kapong (a stop early) because this gentleman was helping me and he told me he'd get me a motor-taxi (motorcycle) to the school. It's about a 5 km walk (the correct bus stop is only 3 km). It turns out that one of the guards from Yaowawit School lives around the corner and he gave me a ride on the motorcycle/mo-ped. HOLY CRAP. Try riding one of these with a backpack and bag and ... don't hang on to the person driving because he's a male... and try to grip the metal thing on the back of the seat... and no helmets (although the speed is REALLY slow), and the whole time I'm thinking... "I'm going to die, please don't crash, I'm going to lose a foot, I'm going to die... don't crash... close your eyes tight!!...squeal! BUMP!AYYYYYYEEE!" The guard drove very well. I was just terrified though!
Anyways... bus from Phang Nga to Kapong...
Scenery from the window...
Time travel back now to earlier in the day at 9:00 am... back to my brisk walk through the market to the bus...
Kata Beach is a 45 minute busride from Old Town Phuket. The bus costs 40 baht (about $1).
Inside of the bus.
View driving east over the hill between Kata Beach and Phuket (Kata Beach is on the west side of the island). These are out of order... this is on the way back.
Bus fares from Kata and Karon Beach to Phuket.
Looking south from the north end of Kata Beach, notice all the buildings... I think these are apartments or condos most likely owned or rented by foreign tourists.
A lovely couple from "EE-taly" took this picture for me. I love all the different accents!
Long tail boat at the north end of the bay... lovely stroll!
Picture of me at the south side of the bay (I was hanging out on the rocks for a bit).
Beautiful view from the rocks.
View from the south end of Kata Beach looking north.
The rocks I climbed over had a couple of tide pool areas with a ton of beautiful crabs. It was hard getting pictures of them though because they are so skittish.
Tiny sand dollar... yes I picked it up and kept it! This beach has very few shells. The ones you find are smaller than a finger nail.
One of the many pics.
View from my table at lunch. I splurged and had Phad Thai and a coconut/banana shake at a really nice hotel. This was like an open bar with a small swimming pool that overlooked the beach. Cost was 353 baht (100 baht more than my hotel!) but well worth it.
I went to Kata Beach about 9:00 am on Sunday. I road the bus which was about a block from my guest house. This bus goes from Old Phuket to the Kata and Karon Beach only.
I got back to Old Town about 1:30/2:00 and walked a TON trying to find the international telecommunications building where I can buy my really cheap phone cards. These are 2 baht a minute to call home which is cheaper than local Thai calls (about $4 an hour).
I eventually got the the Phuket Bus Station and caught the 3:00 bus to Phang Nga. Cost was 90 baht for a 90 minute drive. These are really nice touring type of buses (same as the one I caught from Bangkok to Takoa Pa) and they have A/C.
In Phang Nga I caught a "local"-esk bus (no A/C, no cushy seats - like a US school bus but shorter). I forgot to take a picture. This one cost 40 baht for a 45 minute ride (after waiting 30-45 minutes).
So the next three pics are actually from this last bus about 5:30/6:00 pm Sunday from Phang Nga to Kapong, the village near Yaowawit School.
Apparently when I say the word Kapong, the Thais think I'm saying a city near Bangkok so they kept trying to put me on a bus to Bangkok and wanted to charge me 653 baht... I kept saying... no... 30 kilos north to KaPONG, KaPaahhhhng, KaBONG, KAbong... eventually they understood but I still can't say it right!
A nice man on this bus heard me talking and when I said Kapong and Yaowawit School he told the bus driver where I was going. I got off in Kapong (a stop early) because this gentleman was helping me and he told me he'd get me a motor-taxi (motorcycle) to the school. It's about a 5 km walk (the correct bus stop is only 3 km). It turns out that one of the guards from Yaowawit School lives around the corner and he gave me a ride on the motorcycle/mo-ped. HOLY CRAP. Try riding one of these with a backpack and bag and ... don't hang on to the person driving because he's a male... and try to grip the metal thing on the back of the seat... and no helmets (although the speed is REALLY slow), and the whole time I'm thinking... "I'm going to die, please don't crash, I'm going to lose a foot, I'm going to die... don't crash... close your eyes tight!!...squeal! BUMP!AYYYYYYEEE!" The guard drove very well. I was just terrified though!
Anyways... bus from Phang Nga to Kapong...
Scenery from the window...
Time travel back now to earlier in the day at 9:00 am... back to my brisk walk through the market to the bus...
Kata Beach is a 45 minute busride from Old Town Phuket. The bus costs 40 baht (about $1).
Inside of the bus.
View driving east over the hill between Kata Beach and Phuket (Kata Beach is on the west side of the island). These are out of order... this is on the way back.
Bus fares from Kata and Karon Beach to Phuket.
Looking south from the north end of Kata Beach, notice all the buildings... I think these are apartments or condos most likely owned or rented by foreign tourists.
A lovely couple from "EE-taly" took this picture for me. I love all the different accents!
Long tail boat at the north end of the bay... lovely stroll!
Picture of me at the south side of the bay (I was hanging out on the rocks for a bit).
Beautiful view from the rocks.
View from the south end of Kata Beach looking north.
The rocks I climbed over had a couple of tide pool areas with a ton of beautiful crabs. It was hard getting pictures of them though because they are so skittish.
Tiny sand dollar... yes I picked it up and kept it! This beach has very few shells. The ones you find are smaller than a finger nail.
One of the many pics.
View from my table at lunch. I splurged and had Phad Thai and a coconut/banana shake at a really nice hotel. This was like an open bar with a small swimming pool that overlooked the beach. Cost was 353 baht (100 baht more than my hotel!) but well worth it.
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