Brit's Abroad (22 - 27 December 2013)

The run up to Xmas was relaxed as usual, my main job was Xmas Eve shopping. Off to the big Tesco for supplies, a bottle of the sparkling stuff and a large box of why why. None of this of course is actually for me, it's mainly in case of a world shortage and I need to have supplies in for Carole's arrival.... I really must complain though, the contents of the wine box appear to be evaporating at an alarming rate, must be the heat... Tesco is in Samui is equivalent to Bluewater with a multi screen cinema, little stalls and shops and a variety of food stalls. But you can see from this why the Thai's as a nation have expanding waistlines, it was all the stuff that tastes really good, Dunkin' Donuts, KFC, McD's, no Thai food in sight, and it appears to be the fashionable place to go, lots of young Thai's meeting up with their friends. But the supermarket trip was easy, apart from the check out operators sporting Santa hats, there were none of the queues there would have been at home.



I'm not sure if world economists have cottoned on to this one yet, but for me a sign that the British economy is recovering is the numbers of "Brit's Abroad" - this year in the hotel a much larger proportion is from the UK. For the last few years here, mine has been the only UK voice in a sea of German, Scandy and Russian. This really became noticeable on Xmas Day when every Brit in the resort attended the Xmas Day lunch and we filled a huge table. The hotel put on a buffet lunch, albeit Thai food, but there was Chocolate cake for pudding. No real substitute for Xmas pud but better than a slice of watermelon! There was a band (the same one as the returning guest party band and I think we will see them again New Year's Eve...). We Brit's of course were the first to arrive and last to leave, but a good time was had by all as we belted out a series of Xmas carols over a glass or two. I am still trying to work out what it says about us as a nation - the invite said from 12 midday and all the Brit's obediently turned up at 5 past 12 latest. Every other nationality drifted in much later... Maybe it was the pull of a pre lunch drink... Most of the other guests from Europe had, as is usual for them, celebrated the night before. The French of course nibbled on a bit of fruit, sipped a glass of water and left as soon as they decently could...
I am enjoying being in one of the lovely new rooms here with just a couple of downsides. There is still a lot of drilling and hammering going on as they finish and also fix some of the things that were originally finished to a "Thai" standard.... And as the rooms here are bigger than the others with a sofa that converts into an extra bed there are a few more kids around... I've never been that keen on the pool/kids combination... But no problem really, the water's still a bit cold for me. Unusually it's stayed really windy with high seas virtually all the time I've been here and the restaurant they have on the beach remains resolutely closed. And whilst it is lovely and warm it's not been the wall to wall sunshine I have become used to.
But despite being a long way from home I have still managed to keep up with some of the traditions, watching Downton Abbey whilst nibbling on a mince pie (brought from home - I have finally accepted there are none to be had here) with a glass of why why to go with it being one of the more enjoyable.



There are also an interesting mix of people here, families, couples and groups of friends. But one group of ten comprising of one Brit plus Germans and French has been the object of some discussion between the Brit's here. They meet every other day around a table in the shade and have deep discussions. Turns out they are two psychotherapists and their eight clients. Here for a month of treatment... Nice work if you can get it. Now, how do you feel that went?......


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Location:แม่น้ำ,Thailand

More Southend than Samui (15 - 21 December 2013)

Well the settled dry season hasn't arrived yet as the wind continues to batter the beach. For the last few days the see through plastic shutters have been rolled down on the beachfront and the charming beach restaurant packed away. The sea looks grey green and the beach virtually disappears as the wind pushes the surf up to the sea wall. But don't feel too sorry for me, whilst I have to have a wrap on my shoulders in the evenings if I am near the beach, everywhere else it's business as usual and I'm keeping toasty.
But not the same elsewhere here in Thailand. I stumbled upon the headline of "Cold weather kills two" and discover that the temperature in the North had fallen to the "extreme low" of 9 degrees C resulting in these deaths. Take care out there...
The Florist Resort where I am staying is owned by a Thai family and their two children came back a couple of days ago for a holiday, they are students in Melbourne. This coincided with them putting on a "returning guests" party with drinks, snacks and a band. That too felt a bit like a party in Southend - the band playing a selection of soul and Abba, the Dad sitting having a few whiseys with what looked liked the close relations including Granny, slightly inebriated Germans dancing in the corner and a few French looking with very pursed lips at the selection of snacks on offer - but they did look a bit like "Mum's been to Iceland"... But the family fight was narrowly averted. The French had spent the afternoon with the same pursed lips by the pool as an Indian child, the only boy of over indulgent parents had rereatedly jumped in and out of the water splashing all including various iPads and phones whilst the parents just looked on adoringly. As said Indian family arrived at the party they were guided towards the table with the French, only a last minute swerve to a different place saved the day!
But what is so not Southend is my lovely new room. When I was here last the area in which I am now sleeping was a run down coconut grove and the sleeping place of the local rather scary water buffalo. In a very short time it's been transformed into a rather swish 12 roomed wing all with my fave pool access rooms. Everything is new, the beds, the linen, the kettles and each room has it's own sunbeds so no fear of a German nicking it in the night. And joy of joys decent wifi, they are still messing with cables, but so far so good...
The pool looks lovely but one slight issue for me. The are little steps to get in but I still can't work out how to get out. Whichever way I look at it, it's never going to be elegant. Perhaps I'll try tonight under cover of darkness!






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Location:แม่น้ำ,Thailand

Settling in... (11 December - 15 December 2013)

One of the benefits of a cold November in the UK is wearing nice cosy slippers. The downside to that is that your flip flop toes become unused to flip flopping and get to the point where even feets full of blister plasters don't stop you walking like an old woman - well more than usual that is... Two choices, don't walk anywhere (tempting...) or find temporary comfy shoes. So sad to report, I now look like a provincial German on a bad day in my fetching Crocs. So not a good look and Carole I promise to toughen the feet up before you arrive! Apparently, what I should have done according to Thai culture is to bite all new shoes before wearing for the first time. Biting them makes them not new, therefore unable to give you blisters..... Wish I'd tried that!
But all else here is as expected. Good old Bangkok Airways got me on an earlier flight with no extra charges so I got here mid afternoon. All here's much the same, some businesses closed down some new ones open. The hotel also has a new wing built, due to be finished early December, but true to Thai time it's still not ready. I am due to move there as soon as it is finished just before Xmas. I hope they do actually finish, apparently it's fully booked and don't fancy doubling up!
So time to settle in for a while. Sunday morning on a quiet Mae Nam beach watching a fisherman throw his net into the shallows and immediately bring out a net full of small fish. Fascinating to watch, he walks along the shore looking intently at the sea'a surface, choosing where to cast his net. No idea what he sees, it all looks exactly the same to me. I was never very keen on going into the sea anyway and now the realisation that there are quite a lot of decent sized fish so near the edge has put me off even more!
But pleased it's that blog time of the year again. Not planning any huge adventures but hope to report on sunny days, good food and the odd why why....




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Location:แม่น้ำ,Thailand