Showing posts with label Koh Tao. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Koh Tao. Show all posts

Saturday, 12 March 2011

No time to think of consequences

Beach party in Dubai? Sure why not. As soon as I've found out about Sandance at Nasimi beach at Atlantis hotel I knew I'm gonna be there. Doesn't matter if anyone from my friends here is gonna join me. If there's a beach party I just have to be there.
Of course I knew it'll not be like Full Moon Party or parties at Kho Tao, but still, beach party is a beach party. Sand, water, warm, booze and good music. Different but good too. And even though I'm not huge fan of electronic music I knew it'll be good. 2manyDJs (the only DJ set playing there that I knew) were awesome as well as Smokingroove, Sneaky Sound System, Charl Chaka, Mark Pickup, Sander Kleinenberg, Fragma and Ronin & Nesta.
In the end I've attended that gig with two colleagues of mine, whom in the end I've lost in the crowd (is it something new), but I've met loads of people and surprisingly I've discovered that in the same manner as backpackers ask always the same set of questions expats in Dubai do the same, just the set is different. In stead of asking for how long you've been traveling is how long have u been in Dubai. Instead of asking what u do back home is what u do here and so one and so far. That was nice discovery, it was even nicer to discover it after I've just made up my mind to stay.
Sandance
Sandance venue
2manyDJs. Is he yawning?
2manyDJs
Atlantis hotel by night
JBR - one of the Dubai districts
JBR beach. Even though it's open, public beach everyone wears shorts or bikinis
JBR beach
JBR beach
Modern vs. tradition

Thursday, 23 December 2010

Life on the islands

Koh Tao - Turtle Island located at the Gulf of Thailand and is main destination for divers. It is supposed to be pretty cheap in here and conditions are also wonderful. If it were not for my ear and breathing problems I'd be in, but the farthest as I can go is scuba diving which makes a lot of fun too.
So just after I've arrived (on the choppy and wet overnight cruise from Shurat Thani) I wanted to escape from all taxi and hotel people so I went for a breakfast and WiFi to Cafe del Sol. It was random choice, but very good random choice. Good food and decent internet speed made me stay there prolly 3 hours, when I was having my time after one week without free internet. I'll find my place later, especially that I had some friends over here where I could leave my bag and go for exploration.
Exploration was quite successful, even though I was rather phlegmatic, I've managed to get room for 250B in Lotus Resort (if anyone asks you how much you've paid tell them 300B. Don't tell anyone that you are paying 250B only).
After I've moved in with one of the guys that I've met before in Cambodia we've went to that posh hotel and spa where some other people were staying who he met on a party and apparently they were inviting everyone to join theirs' facilities.
It was challenge to get there, as road was very bumpy and steep and not like the on you would imagine to lead to the most expensive place on the whole island. Especially that on the first day we were two on one motorbike (on the second day I rented my own). Not even motorbike, but scooter (btw, here I do things that I'd never imagined to do so poorly equipped, like hiking in flip-flops everywhere to access rocks, riding motorbike in extreme terrain in flip-flops). But it was worth. After we got there it was high life. Swimming pool, private beach with private boat driver to take you there, snorkeling equipment.
This is basically how I've spent two of my three days in here. Third day was similar with the difference that in another posh place where I've went to, there was no swimming pool. But still I enjoyed my day in hammock with a book in hand.
Today I take a boat to Kho Phangan, where Full Moon Party takes place. The only little problem is that I'm sick. My idea is that it's from the air conditioning on the boat to here couple of days ago. Runny nose and stacked sinuses are not what you want for Full Moon Party.
Posh life
Private beach

Those boys performing fire shows were amazing

2 days after...
In some magical way, even though I was not in perfect mood for a party, tired, with painful sinuses, a little bit down I was making an effort to have good time. I've bought Full Moon Party vest, necklaces, painted my body, I've flushed flu pills with Gin bucket, hang around with people, did my best in painting some of my friends, walked whole beach up and down in order to find the best place to be. To start dancing was some effort but in the end it all was worth it. I've had great night. I've been in a groove. My mind absent, my body following the rhythm, just me and the dance beach. It was so nice to feel it again, after quite a long time. I guess that might be partially because if you make to much party you stop enjoying them that much, although I must say, that recently I had rather calm evenings, so maybe that made it. And some good company that I've found in the end.
After all I've seen sunrise, returned home about 11 probably with two hours of sleep in between. Quick breakfast and back at the beach. To take more sleep. In fact I was not able to fall asleep, so when evening came I was that buggered that I barely could walk, so I've made my way directly to bed.



Full Moon Party venue

Full Moon Party venue

Painting

I do my best to paint Marcus

Ton Sai trio

Live art

Abstraction

Orange kiss

Full Moon Party

Full Moon Party - mirror view

Saturday, 18 December 2010

TonSai Beach

As usually I've stayed in Railay longer than I've planned.

After first night in Railay West I've moved to different part on peninsula - TonSai Beach. And this one is definitely climbers' paradise. After retrospection the day before I knew there I want to be to give this place a chance: Saithong Bungalows. 150B for single, very simple bungalow with bathroom it's the best what you can get in Railay. It's the cheapest place, but also the coolest one. At the top of the hill, in forest, with mosquitoes and relaxed atmosphere. Just after I got there I've met people with whom I've been hanging around whole week, climbing, kayaking, building sand castle, partying, having breakfast. I've just joined them at the table when they were having breakfast during day of rest.

They were group of random people who just met there couple of days before. Climbers and non-climbers, better and worse climbers. Crowd from different countries. This is as always something that makes group unique and very much rock'n'roll. And of course climbers society, which is chilled and relaxed.

Right away I've joined them at the beach, where we've started to build sand castle. It was Brad's idea and actually everyone liked it so much and got so involved, that we've spent prolly about 3 hours designing and building. I don't remember when was the last time that I did that, but certainly it was loads of fun.

Next day we've went climbing and kayaking. Plan was to kayak to Happy Island and climb there, but as planes were changing every 5 minutes in the end we've kayaked another 30 mins to reach Ko Poda, where we were struggling again to find rocks, but eventually we've succeeded.6a+ But the problem was that everyone was so buggered after paddling and it was so late that we did not do too much, but still the whole day was cool. 10 people on the kayaking, climbing trip, that must be fun. I was paddling only on the way back, cause we had 2 doubles and 2 triples, and person in the middle seat in the triple is not supposed to paddle, so girls were changing and paddling less than boys, especially those who were climbing.

The following days people were leaving and new people were coming, we've been making new climbing friends, so there was always someone climbing similar level as I do (as usually I've started to regret quiting climbing) which currently is very low. 6a+ is was I managed to do top rope and I was struggling. Funny thing though I had the feeling that I have better sense of balance and that I know better where to step for optimal performance. Maybe indeed I had talent and I've wasted it. I hope to do some more climbing in Chang Mai or Van Vieng (or both) if I manage to organise it with Meike and Todd with whom I'll be meeting tomorrow in Kho Tao, as they left one day before me.



Sand castle designers and builders


Sand castle designers and builders


Patrick in work


Sand castle almost ready


Kayaking trip to Kho Poda


Let's light some mosquito coils


Climbing


Sand castle, two days later


Todd in action. High tide is coming.


Shot from the top


Half moon party in Chill out Cafe at TonSai Beach


Beth charms the DJ


Another view from the top - East and West Railay. At the far background: TonSai


Sunset in TonSai


Mr. Pancake in action


Bas hanging in his 7a+ project


Climbing at the beach


Climbing at the beach


Merry Christmas everyone ;-)


My 150B bungalow


Beth - Little Mermaid