The days here are fairly predictable, in a good way! Lazing by the pool, wandering along the beach, watching the ever changing mix of people staying here. All nationalities are represented and recently more Chinese have arrived in the run up to Chinese New Year. A few trips into Chaweng and Nathon for a change of scene or back down to near the Florist for Walking Street. Also an increased complement of Brits as the family of the couple I first met up with at the Florist arrive for their wedding here on Friday. It's certainly a big one with over 40 guests from the UK here for the event. But they are a lovely group of people from Whitby who I joined for cocktails a couple of nights ago.
So my big decision most days is where and what to eat, nice.
Also on my evening walks through the local village area I take in the local wildlife. Only seen one snake so far and luckily that was squashed on the road along with a few unfortunate frogs.
The family of puppies that were so tiny when Carole was here are really getting big. Other dogs from healthy lookers to sad cases are everywhere, I wander past chickens and chicks scrabbling about in the dirt, there is the odd horse tethered to a coconut palm and my favourite is checking the progress of the water buffalo and her new calf. And I also walk past a shop with a great name. It's touted as the best wedding photographer on the island and is called "Donudes"... Not sure it's that appropriate!
But Thailand's big on festivals and all is gearing up for Chinese New Year. The hotel is having a big gala evening (may give that one a miss...), Chinese lanterns adorn the streets and hang dotted around the hotel. But the local temple shop, normally full of yellow Thai temple stuff and Monks' offerings is now a cornucopia of festival objects. Christmas baubles are still in stock and Chinese New Year lanterns fight for space with that other great Western festival, Valentine's Day.
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