Its kind of sad but its better to leave a place while you're still having fun than when you're sick of it.
Snorkeling yesterday was so cool. I saw some really cool fish, coral, anemones...etc. I think my favorites were the sea urchins. Its a really unique experience when you're feeding the fish in the water and the whole school is swimming around you.
Thai massages are also a beautiful thing. A full hour massage for only 250 Baht ($7.50US). And that is on the expensive side. In Bangkok they were only 180 Baht.
Tomorrow is the Koh Chang full moon party! Even though its not the Koh Phang Nan one, it'll still be a great time. Especially because we met up with Denise, Hugo, Kaylyn, and Meghan who are also staying on Koh Chang.
On Sunday morning we depart on a 10 and a half hour bus ride for Siem Reap, Cambodia. Home to Angkor Wat!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Chang
is the Thai word for Elephant. Koh (island) Chang is an island shaped like an elephant head. Chang beer has elephants on the label. What would Koh Chang be without elephants? Nothing, thats what. And where there's elephants theres elephant trekking. For a mere 900 Baht (about $27) you can ride some elephants through the jungle and swim with them in a stream. If you ask me, thats an excellent use of $27.
All of the excursions here are really cool and pretty cheap. Tomorrow we're going on a snorkeling trip to 4 of the islands around Koh Chang. The boat goes to Koh Thong Lang, Koh Rung, Koh Loan, and Koh Wai. Its a day long trip of snorkeling, swimming, and a Thai buffet for lunch. All for 500 Baht! About $15. I love Thailand.
All of the excursions here are really cool and pretty cheap. Tomorrow we're going on a snorkeling trip to 4 of the islands around Koh Chang. The boat goes to Koh Thong Lang, Koh Rung, Koh Loan, and Koh Wai. Its a day long trip of snorkeling, swimming, and a Thai buffet for lunch. All for 500 Baht! About $15. I love Thailand.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Koh Chang
So after last post. The hostel I met Julie at sucked. It was an hour away from the good parts of Bangkok and it was devoid of personality. We cancelled the rest of the reservations and went back to the Phiman Water View. Best choice ever. The people I met there were awesome. The owner, Vee, told me to say hi to all the starfish on Koh Chang.
We only spent two days in Bangkok. The first day...well technically second, we went to the Grand Palace. I don't think I've seen anything that shiny and pointy in my life. Skydiving over the city would be a TERRIBLE idea. EVERYTHING is pointy and would skewer you on impact. Also, there was so much gold. Everywhere.
Yesterday we booked a tour to the floating market, the bridge on the River Kwai, and the Tiger Temple. The market was interesting, the bridge was alright (nobody knew the story behind it...including us), and the temple was awesome. I got to pet a bunch of tigers and got my picture taken with them.
Now its chill time on the White Sand Beach of Koh Chang for a week. We're staying at a pretty cool hotel right on the beach. After the whirlwind of Hong Kong, Macau, and Bangkok this will be really nice. We're even gonna go elephant trekking.
Back to munching on green curry and sipping coconut shakes.
We only spent two days in Bangkok. The first day...well technically second, we went to the Grand Palace. I don't think I've seen anything that shiny and pointy in my life. Skydiving over the city would be a TERRIBLE idea. EVERYTHING is pointy and would skewer you on impact. Also, there was so much gold. Everywhere.
Yesterday we booked a tour to the floating market, the bridge on the River Kwai, and the Tiger Temple. The market was interesting, the bridge was alright (nobody knew the story behind it...including us), and the temple was awesome. I got to pet a bunch of tigers and got my picture taken with them.
Now its chill time on the White Sand Beach of Koh Chang for a week. We're staying at a pretty cool hotel right on the beach. After the whirlwind of Hong Kong, Macau, and Bangkok this will be really nice. We're even gonna go elephant trekking.
Back to munching on green curry and sipping coconut shakes.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Monks are walking by...
...as I'm sitting in this little internet cafe in Bangkok. What an awesome place this is.
I got in last night and made it to my hostel after searching every nook and cranny of the street. Once we (the taxi driver and I) found it, it was great. If you're ever in Bangkok and want to stay near the bustling Khao San Road but not actually on it, definitely look into the Phiman Water View Hostel. Its really clean, cheap, chill. Perfect for sitting by the river and enjoying a beer with some people.
Thailand is so more laid back than Hong Kong and Macau. Hong Kong was great, don't get me wrong, but after 2 days I was done. The worlds biggest outdoor seated bronze Buddha was really cool, as was the village of Tai O and the Nunnery but it got really overwhelming and it kind of sucked traveling alone. The hostel I stayed at in Hong Kong was kind of grungy (as were all of them in the fabulous Mirador and Chungking Mansions) and the other guests were there on prolonged stays so they weren't into doing the stuff I was doing.
Macau on the other hand was nothing short of spectacular. Being a former Portuguese colony, it retained a lot of its European charm. The buildings, streets, and food were all very European. If you want a more fast paced time, you can always go to the casinos.
Now I have to find a taxi to take me to the new hostel I booked for Julie and I...this could be interesting. I thought it was in walking distance but I was very wrong. FML. I'm really excited to finally have someone to travel with after being devoid of human contact for the better part of a week.
I got in last night and made it to my hostel after searching every nook and cranny of the street. Once we (the taxi driver and I) found it, it was great. If you're ever in Bangkok and want to stay near the bustling Khao San Road but not actually on it, definitely look into the Phiman Water View Hostel. Its really clean, cheap, chill. Perfect for sitting by the river and enjoying a beer with some people.
Thailand is so more laid back than Hong Kong and Macau. Hong Kong was great, don't get me wrong, but after 2 days I was done. The worlds biggest outdoor seated bronze Buddha was really cool, as was the village of Tai O and the Nunnery but it got really overwhelming and it kind of sucked traveling alone. The hostel I stayed at in Hong Kong was kind of grungy (as were all of them in the fabulous Mirador and Chungking Mansions) and the other guests were there on prolonged stays so they weren't into doing the stuff I was doing.
Macau on the other hand was nothing short of spectacular. Being a former Portuguese colony, it retained a lot of its European charm. The buildings, streets, and food were all very European. If you want a more fast paced time, you can always go to the casinos.
Now I have to find a taxi to take me to the new hostel I booked for Julie and I...this could be interesting. I thought it was in walking distance but I was very wrong. FML. I'm really excited to finally have someone to travel with after being devoid of human contact for the better part of a week.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
UUUGGHHHHH
I love traveling, just not the domestic part of it. It took FOREVER for me to get to this cozy internet lounge between gates 124 and 125 of Incheon Airport.
I took (read: just barely made) the 11:20 bus out of Yeosu for Seoul. Nothing spectacular there. I slept the whole way up. The buses are always early, so I got to the Seoul Bus Terminal at 3:45am. Too bad the first train didn't start till 5:40. Not to mention that the terminal/subway was FREEZING. I kept warm by reading about all the delicious food that I would be eating in Hong Kong and Macau. When the metro finally started running, it was about an hour and 45 minute ride to Incheon Airport. The metro seats are heated so that was a plus.
When I finally arrived at the airport, everything was a breeze. I'm pretty sure it took me longer to find the check in counter than it did to get checked in, go through security, and go through customs. Asia can be so efficient sometimes. Especially at 7:45am.
Its currently 8:26 and I have an hour to kill before I board. I'm gonna make this 14 hour time difference work for me and spend it on facebook chat.
Adios.
I took (read: just barely made) the 11:20 bus out of Yeosu for Seoul. Nothing spectacular there. I slept the whole way up. The buses are always early, so I got to the Seoul Bus Terminal at 3:45am. Too bad the first train didn't start till 5:40. Not to mention that the terminal/subway was FREEZING. I kept warm by reading about all the delicious food that I would be eating in Hong Kong and Macau. When the metro finally started running, it was about an hour and 45 minute ride to Incheon Airport. The metro seats are heated so that was a plus.
When I finally arrived at the airport, everything was a breeze. I'm pretty sure it took me longer to find the check in counter than it did to get checked in, go through security, and go through customs. Asia can be so efficient sometimes. Especially at 7:45am.
Its currently 8:26 and I have an hour to kill before I board. I'm gonna make this 14 hour time difference work for me and spend it on facebook chat.
Adios.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I leave tomorrow night...
...and still have laundry to do, still have to pack, have to go to e-mart, have to print my travel documents, and have to change my money into God knows what. So what do I do now? Write a blog about it instead of doing it.
(I just got distracted and 10 minutes has passed) I procrastinate with procrastinating.
In the 10 minutes I got distracted I decided to check the bus schedule. Just my luck that the bus to Incheon Airport tomorrow night is full. Awesome. The bus to the city of Incheon leaves at 4pm...way too early. I'm not spending 12 hours sitting in the airport. My best option is to get a bus to Seoul, which puts me there at 4:30am. From there I have to chill in either the bus station or the metro station until it starts running. From there I hop on the metro to Incheon Airport. What a headache.
Alright, I really need to get moving. I have until 11pm tomorrow to do everything I need to get done.
(I just got distracted and 10 minutes has passed) I procrastinate with procrastinating.
In the 10 minutes I got distracted I decided to check the bus schedule. Just my luck that the bus to Incheon Airport tomorrow night is full. Awesome. The bus to the city of Incheon leaves at 4pm...way too early. I'm not spending 12 hours sitting in the airport. My best option is to get a bus to Seoul, which puts me there at 4:30am. From there I have to chill in either the bus station or the metro station until it starts running. From there I hop on the metro to Incheon Airport. What a headache.
Alright, I really need to get moving. I have until 11pm tomorrow to do everything I need to get done.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Side Effects May Include...
Nausea, dizziness, and loss of appetite...among others. Others. The others include hair loss, syncope (temporary loss of consciousness), chills, and muscle pain. Ooooh Lariam.
Lariam aka mefloquine aka anti-malarial medication.
I've heard from my friends that you don't need malaria pills. My guidebook says I do. I think sucking up the side effects is definitely better than malaria. I'd rather not experience chills, rigor, fever, and sweating for 4-6 hours every 2 days. Not my cup of tea. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Figuring that I'm going to 5 countries (lumping Honk Kong and Macau as part of China) in mosquito ridden Southeast Asia, getting malaria pills seemed like a good idea. Anti-malarials are one of the few medications that you need a prescription for in Korea. I went to the hospital (my students and teachers call it that) which is like a big public health center. Except with with hospital beds? I dunno. Its either a hospital-lite or doctor's plus. Either way, it was easy. Go up to the counter, say "malaria medication" (malaria is the same in English and Korean) and you get taken to the doctor. Tell him what countries you're going to and for how long and he writes you a prescription. Take that next door to the yak (pharmacy) and you're good to go. Funny tho, the hospital nurse said that malaria medicine isn't covered by insurance and it would be expensive. My month's supply cost me 24,000 won. About $21. Maybe its expensive by Korean standards but it seemed alright to me.
Koreans are really on top of things with their healthcare. Its dirt cheap to get medicine, see the doctor, even get surgery. Even acupuncture is cheap. 6,000 won ($5) a session. And nobody is scared to see the doctor here. It seems like in America everyone is reluctant to see the doctor because of the waiting and costs. Here its efficient and cheap. No wonder my students tell me they were absent because they were at the hospital. In the 20 minutes I was at the doctor's I saw 4 students. I definitely feel better knowing that even with the language barrier, healthcare is easy to use.
A tasty addition to dinner tonight, 1 Lariam tablet. Gotta start the meds 1 week early.
Lariam aka mefloquine aka anti-malarial medication.
I've heard from my friends that you don't need malaria pills. My guidebook says I do. I think sucking up the side effects is definitely better than malaria. I'd rather not experience chills, rigor, fever, and sweating for 4-6 hours every 2 days. Not my cup of tea. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Figuring that I'm going to 5 countries (lumping Honk Kong and Macau as part of China) in mosquito ridden Southeast Asia, getting malaria pills seemed like a good idea. Anti-malarials are one of the few medications that you need a prescription for in Korea. I went to the hospital (my students and teachers call it that) which is like a big public health center. Except with with hospital beds? I dunno. Its either a hospital-lite or doctor's plus. Either way, it was easy. Go up to the counter, say "malaria medication" (malaria is the same in English and Korean) and you get taken to the doctor. Tell him what countries you're going to and for how long and he writes you a prescription. Take that next door to the yak (pharmacy) and you're good to go. Funny tho, the hospital nurse said that malaria medicine isn't covered by insurance and it would be expensive. My month's supply cost me 24,000 won. About $21. Maybe its expensive by Korean standards but it seemed alright to me.
Koreans are really on top of things with their healthcare. Its dirt cheap to get medicine, see the doctor, even get surgery. Even acupuncture is cheap. 6,000 won ($5) a session. And nobody is scared to see the doctor here. It seems like in America everyone is reluctant to see the doctor because of the waiting and costs. Here its efficient and cheap. No wonder my students tell me they were absent because they were at the hospital. In the 20 minutes I was at the doctor's I saw 4 students. I definitely feel better knowing that even with the language barrier, healthcare is easy to use.
A tasty addition to dinner tonight, 1 Lariam tablet. Gotta start the meds 1 week early.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Happy (late) New Year!
My New Year's resolution: update this more frequently.
It felt weird this year not ringing in the new year at 241...or drinking Andre. I made do, however, and went to Busan for New Year's. We stayed on Gwangalli Beach because we heard the nightlife was better there. Instead of booking a love motel our group made the decision to splurge on a nice hotel. It was about 55,000 won ($48) per person. New Year's is once a year so why not? Our room also came with Skylounge access to see the sunrise. Koreans take their sunrises seriously, and the New Year's sunrise is a big deal. After the sunrise we headed to Haeundae Beach, the bigger of the two to fly some New Year's kites. That was the most fun thing I have done this year.
While in Busan we saw Avatar in 3D. If you haven't seen it (even in 2D), DO IT! It was a phenomenal movie. I'm contemplating going to Gwangju this weekend to see it on Imax.
At school its winter camp time. 4 classes per day. 8:30-noon. not bad at all. My roster is 25 students but i've only had a full class once. My co-teacher told me to make fun, game oriented lessons for the students, so its more or less a blast. Its so much more lax than regular class and I frequently find myslef doubled over with laughter at some of the things that my students say.
My vacation countdown is at 8 days! One week from tomorrow! I'm so excited. Wendy, who was just in Thailand bought a "First Time: Asia" guidebook and let me borrow it. Its full of things I never would've thought of. Like how big your backpack should be. The backpack has given me the most trouble. Do I invest in a quality backpack or get a really reasonably priced/sized one at the market? The minimum "investment" for a backpack of recommended size that I found was at least 195,000 won. The guidebooks say thats a good price but I'm not ready to spend that kind of money right before vacation. I ended up buying this 52 liter monstrosity (its really not that bad) for 48,000 won. Julie has the same kind and it has survived 3 10 day trips around Asia so I think it'll be ok.
As for booking and such, I booked a hostel in Hong Kong and Macau. Everywhere else I was told to just get a room on arrival. Both places are a little more expensive than the rest of SE Asia, but I was able to find a deal. 5 nights in Hong Kong cost me 51,000 won and 1 night in Macau cost me 18,000. Not terribly bad.
I feel like I have so much to do between now and next wednesday night! (I'm taking the night bus to Incheon Airport). Good thing I have the 7th and 8th off!
It felt weird this year not ringing in the new year at 241...or drinking Andre. I made do, however, and went to Busan for New Year's. We stayed on Gwangalli Beach because we heard the nightlife was better there. Instead of booking a love motel our group made the decision to splurge on a nice hotel. It was about 55,000 won ($48) per person. New Year's is once a year so why not? Our room also came with Skylounge access to see the sunrise. Koreans take their sunrises seriously, and the New Year's sunrise is a big deal. After the sunrise we headed to Haeundae Beach, the bigger of the two to fly some New Year's kites. That was the most fun thing I have done this year.
While in Busan we saw Avatar in 3D. If you haven't seen it (even in 2D), DO IT! It was a phenomenal movie. I'm contemplating going to Gwangju this weekend to see it on Imax.
At school its winter camp time. 4 classes per day. 8:30-noon. not bad at all. My roster is 25 students but i've only had a full class once. My co-teacher told me to make fun, game oriented lessons for the students, so its more or less a blast. Its so much more lax than regular class and I frequently find myslef doubled over with laughter at some of the things that my students say.
My vacation countdown is at 8 days! One week from tomorrow! I'm so excited. Wendy, who was just in Thailand bought a "First Time: Asia" guidebook and let me borrow it. Its full of things I never would've thought of. Like how big your backpack should be. The backpack has given me the most trouble. Do I invest in a quality backpack or get a really reasonably priced/sized one at the market? The minimum "investment" for a backpack of recommended size that I found was at least 195,000 won. The guidebooks say thats a good price but I'm not ready to spend that kind of money right before vacation. I ended up buying this 52 liter monstrosity (its really not that bad) for 48,000 won. Julie has the same kind and it has survived 3 10 day trips around Asia so I think it'll be ok.
As for booking and such, I booked a hostel in Hong Kong and Macau. Everywhere else I was told to just get a room on arrival. Both places are a little more expensive than the rest of SE Asia, but I was able to find a deal. 5 nights in Hong Kong cost me 51,000 won and 1 night in Macau cost me 18,000. Not terribly bad.
I feel like I have so much to do between now and next wednesday night! (I'm taking the night bus to Incheon Airport). Good thing I have the 7th and 8th off!
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