Hello. I write this from Mum's kitchen. We survived our journey and are back in chilly England. It's lovely to be back for the end of Christmas cheer. So Thailand was an experience full of learning and full of fantastic people. What more could I want?
Thank you for reading and following and commenting. It was good to be able to document the journey and pick out the highlights.
Stay tuned for the new Japan blog starting in a few months.
Happy New Year!!
Love, Jo xx
Thursday 30 December 2010
Saturday 25 December 2010
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas. Today has been perhaps what Christmas is sort of about. Sharing good times with friends. Although we miss you all at home lots.
The sun shone beautifully all day. We went guitar shopping with Alice and ended up in our favourite coffee shop joined by Chris and Tom. We sat around singing songs and drinking lemon soda and tea. This afternoon we watched F.C Phuket win the match that will see them promoted. We won! The atmosphere was fantastic and helped along by rousing choruses of Jingle Bells from us lot.
Tonight we're off to the Old Tricycle to celebrate with Ad and everyone with more singing and guitar playing but sadly no turkey.
I hope you're all enjoying the day spending it in your different ways and appreciating those you're spending it with.
It's funny with no presents and without the routine of tradition it is amazing how much pleasure and magic can be derived from sharing a chorus of Away in a Manger with a group of people who are friends today just because they all know the words to that song and they're a long way from home.
Perhaps most of all I am surprised how much it being Christmas means. I thought without the usual trimmings it'd be just another day but as unchristian as I count myself there's something special in this date, something that makes me feel happy and peaceful and as if I have many blessings to count.
So as aft repeated it is I wish you all peace, happiness and health this Christmas and for those Christmasses to come.
With love, Jo xxx
Alice and Mike and the new guitar at the Bookhemian Arthouse.
Mike supporting FC Phuket like a true fan (coincidence that they play in the same colours as Yeovil).
The sun shone beautifully all day. We went guitar shopping with Alice and ended up in our favourite coffee shop joined by Chris and Tom. We sat around singing songs and drinking lemon soda and tea. This afternoon we watched F.C Phuket win the match that will see them promoted. We won! The atmosphere was fantastic and helped along by rousing choruses of Jingle Bells from us lot.
Tonight we're off to the Old Tricycle to celebrate with Ad and everyone with more singing and guitar playing but sadly no turkey.
I hope you're all enjoying the day spending it in your different ways and appreciating those you're spending it with.
It's funny with no presents and without the routine of tradition it is amazing how much pleasure and magic can be derived from sharing a chorus of Away in a Manger with a group of people who are friends today just because they all know the words to that song and they're a long way from home.
Perhaps most of all I am surprised how much it being Christmas means. I thought without the usual trimmings it'd be just another day but as unchristian as I count myself there's something special in this date, something that makes me feel happy and peaceful and as if I have many blessings to count.
So as aft repeated it is I wish you all peace, happiness and health this Christmas and for those Christmasses to come.
With love, Jo xxx
Friday 24 December 2010
The Giant Buddha and the Seaside
Hello. There is a huge hilltop statue of Buddha that is visible from the entire south of the island of Phuket. It is made of marble tiles and appears to float over the trees that cover the islands hills. On Wednesday we went to see it. The base of it is unfinished and ultimately it will have sweeping steps leading up to it. At the moment there is a back stairway. The views from the top are magnificent even on a greyish day such as the day we visited. The Buddha himself glints in the light close to and is dizzying to look at. All around it are prayer bells and wheels and golden Buddha statues and statues of monks. There is a temple below and even with the tourists it feels very peaceful.
In less cultural news we spent a few days at the beach. We visited Kata and Karon which were hideously busy and a few seconds away held the same hideous tourist meccas of Patong. But the sea was crystal clear and the views outwards around the bay beautiful. Today we went to Nai Harn which is my favourite in Phuket. It has quite feisty waves but they are clear blue and then pristine white. The bay is small and there are several small islands visible. Pine trees line the beach and the few restaurants there are under umbrellas amongst the trees. However on Christmas eve it was well populated especially compared to the last time I visited in November. It was a lovely day but I understand now why everyone in Bang Niang was so worried by the lack of tourists. Often there were only five of us stretched out on that beach. I was spoilt!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
Love Jo xxx
In less cultural news we spent a few days at the beach. We visited Kata and Karon which were hideously busy and a few seconds away held the same hideous tourist meccas of Patong. But the sea was crystal clear and the views outwards around the bay beautiful. Today we went to Nai Harn which is my favourite in Phuket. It has quite feisty waves but they are clear blue and then pristine white. The bay is small and there are several small islands visible. Pine trees line the beach and the few restaurants there are under umbrellas amongst the trees. However on Christmas eve it was well populated especially compared to the last time I visited in November. It was a lovely day but I understand now why everyone in Bang Niang was so worried by the lack of tourists. Often there were only five of us stretched out on that beach. I was spoilt!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
Love Jo xxx
Monday 20 December 2010
Ko Sirey
There are a lot of mangrove forests and living in one were a whole load of monkeys. There were some really tiny baby ones.
Sunday 19 December 2010
The Weekend
Hello. This weekend has been one of festivities and celebrations in Phuket Town and I've joined in despite a rather nasty cold! Alright I don't actually expect any sympathy from those of you fending off frostbite etc.
Last night we went into the old town where we like to wonder for coffee and people watching anyway. Three streets were closed off for a street festival. There were stages in the middle of the streets with performers doing acrobatics, comedy etc. Around the edges were stalls selling food and clothes and other random bits and pieces. There were huge globes lighting the streets as well as fairy lights and the atmosphere was really good. We sat around a fountain with a golden dragon in the middle and ate various street food and drank a can of beer while acrobats twirled on long ribbons and in hoops to Portishead. (Oh yes, Ed I listened to Portishead in Thailand eating savoury pancakes and drinking Leo).
Today we went to watch FC Phuket play a match to get them one step away from promotion to the next league. We met Ad (the man who runs the bar known mostly to us as 'downstairs' or The Old Tricycle with his family. He took us to where he normally sits where we met his friends and were suppled with beer by a rich looking German man. Anyway. Phuket won the match 2-0 so it was exciting to watch. There was a strange delay after half time when the opposing team came out in their home strip after playing the 1st half in their away colours. They were promptly dispatched to change back again and the game continued.
I hope the snow isn't causing too much hassle. Also I really hope Heathrow isn't closed when we try and get in!
Last night we went into the old town where we like to wonder for coffee and people watching anyway. Three streets were closed off for a street festival. There were stages in the middle of the streets with performers doing acrobatics, comedy etc. Around the edges were stalls selling food and clothes and other random bits and pieces. There were huge globes lighting the streets as well as fairy lights and the atmosphere was really good. We sat around a fountain with a golden dragon in the middle and ate various street food and drank a can of beer while acrobats twirled on long ribbons and in hoops to Portishead. (Oh yes, Ed I listened to Portishead in Thailand eating savoury pancakes and drinking Leo).
Today we went to watch FC Phuket play a match to get them one step away from promotion to the next league. We met Ad (the man who runs the bar known mostly to us as 'downstairs' or The Old Tricycle with his family. He took us to where he normally sits where we met his friends and were suppled with beer by a rich looking German man. Anyway. Phuket won the match 2-0 so it was exciting to watch. There was a strange delay after half time when the opposing team came out in their home strip after playing the 1st half in their away colours. They were promptly dispatched to change back again and the game continued.
I hope the snow isn't causing too much hassle. Also I really hope Heathrow isn't closed when we try and get in!
Friday 17 December 2010
Decision Time
Hello. Well most of you will know by now about our decision to come back to the snowy UK for a short while. There were a few days of angonising over this. I know that I don't especially want to teach in Thailand. It doesn't suit me. I also know that I really want to keep teaching and we both really want to keep travelling. So in that vain we are applying to various jobs in Spain, Italy and Japan. You will have seen if you've been following this that we have had a brilliant adventure. After Bang Niang we struggled to resettle in Phuket. Suddenly we're tourists/foreigners again. In Bang Niang we were part of a Thai family and had many Thai friends. It was hard to readjust. When I experienced the laid back style of teaching and spoke to other teachers we decided it wasn't for us. As we would need to renew our visas to stay and we already have a flight to get home we decided on the latter.We can apply for other jobs as well from Somerset as here.
It's very exciting to think of seeing family and friends again so soon. It's also exciting to plan our next adventure.
So as we sat in our favourite coffee bar where I have discovered fresh lemon juice and soda drinks talking and talking over our options a parade began to pass by. There were various marching bands in different glorious uniforms, school children dressed up or in uniform, adults in traditional and non-traditional costumes. It went on for about 2 hours. The women were wearing huge stillettos and it was so hot that day.
Love, Jo xxx
It's very exciting to think of seeing family and friends again so soon. It's also exciting to plan our next adventure.
So as we sat in our favourite coffee bar where I have discovered fresh lemon juice and soda drinks talking and talking over our options a parade began to pass by. There were various marching bands in different glorious uniforms, school children dressed up or in uniform, adults in traditional and non-traditional costumes. It went on for about 2 hours. The women were wearing huge stillettos and it was so hot that day.
Monday 13 December 2010
A days work at last.
So today I worked at a Kindergarten in Patong. It was quite fun really. I had to teach three classes of about 30 four year olds from 9 until 10.30 then another class from 2.30 til 3. That was it. This is a supply job while the teacher sorts out her visa in Malaysia. We ran through the alphabet, sang the song. Did a bit of counting with some singing, had a game involving days of the week and also one involving colours. I played hokey cokey with one particularly noisy class. And with my very well behaved class we even got onto simple commands like run, walk, jump which they delighted in.
I'm going back tomorrow. The search for full time work continues but only because I'm being a little fussy in what I choose.
Mike has had a break from Guitar and is now back on it in a serious way teaching himself no end of fancy new things while I'm at work. The suite continues to treat us well and it's nice to have a proper place to hang out in. We even used the microwave to make jacket spuds and baked beans last night! It was a tad disappointing though-it nuked the spud and the beans tasted like rubbish ones back home. But it had to be tried.
So as Mum correctly identified we do have room for visitors for another 17 days.
Love Jo xx
I'm going back tomorrow. The search for full time work continues but only because I'm being a little fussy in what I choose.
Mike has had a break from Guitar and is now back on it in a serious way teaching himself no end of fancy new things while I'm at work. The suite continues to treat us well and it's nice to have a proper place to hang out in. We even used the microwave to make jacket spuds and baked beans last night! It was a tad disappointing though-it nuked the spud and the beans tasted like rubbish ones back home. But it had to be tried.
So as Mum correctly identified we do have room for visitors for another 17 days.
Love Jo xx
Friday 10 December 2010
Last Night in Bang Niang
Pa, me and Apple
This is the noodle bar on our last night on Sunday. Pa and Apple are the two girls I taught-I should call them women as they're both much older than me. I truly will remember them forever. Although I was teaching them I learnt so much from them. They would teach me bits of Thai and always make me exotic food and drink. They are so good at having fun and so hard-working. After the long days they had put in and the hours still to go they'd sit and learn English for as long as I would stay there. Hours sometimes. Jumping up to serve customers in between.
Oy is older and spoke quite a bit of English. She very much looks after the other two and makes them take any opportunity offered to them. Finn is from Denmark but spends most of his time in Bang Niang living with Oy. The other lady we really don't know she appeared a couple of times in our last days there and would always act quite bizzarely as the photo shows hence her nickname.
Well I am already picking up a bit of work here in Phuket. I have two private lessons at the weekend but I'm also doing a lot of supply style work which suits me quite well.
We have moved into a suite on the top floor of our hotel as it's the only room available from now until New Year. It is bigger than our flat in Waterloo St for those that visited. We have a lounge with a sofa bed, a table and chairs, a cubby with a fridge, kettle and microwave. A bathroom and a separate kitchen sink opposite each other and then a large bedroom. Luxury for Christmas.
More of an update again than a theme but there you have it. I'll try and get some style back soon.
Love, Jo
Tuesday 7 December 2010
Back Again
So we're back in not so sunny Phuket. After a fight between the owners Mai Muang is no more so we decided to cut our losses in Bang Niang and move back to Phuket a few weeks earlier than planned. We're staying in our old hotel until new year when we will move to one with a swimming pool. So today I have been traipsing around looking for work. It's all been quite positive and I shall wait to hear more news.
It has been a slightly sad move back as everything fell apart so quickly and we left several friends feeling very lost and disillusioned with the way their dreams had turned out. However, we are still on good terms with everyone and have many people to visit should be go back anywhen.
There is a good group of mostly teachers to hang out with here and much advice and experience to make use of.
Mike is taking some time to decide what he wants to do now. We're both looking forward to me having a job so we can start to feel a little more settled.
Sorry that there is not much entertaining news but I wanted to update you with the move.
Love, Jo xxx
It has been a slightly sad move back as everything fell apart so quickly and we left several friends feeling very lost and disillusioned with the way their dreams had turned out. However, we are still on good terms with everyone and have many people to visit should be go back anywhen.
There is a good group of mostly teachers to hang out with here and much advice and experience to make use of.
Mike is taking some time to decide what he wants to do now. We're both looking forward to me having a job so we can start to feel a little more settled.
Sorry that there is not much entertaining news but I wanted to update you with the move.
Love, Jo xxx
Friday 3 December 2010
BBQs
The past two days have taught me a great deal about indoor barbequing-not something you'd think would be so important in such a temperate climate but apparently it's quit a celebrated custom. Firstly on Wednesday night at the bar Lek and Nataing produced a griddled hot plate and a plastic box of marinated steaks and cooked us all steak in the middle of the bar alongside it were giant chillis, tomatoes and pineapple.
Yesterday Christian and his girlfriend took us to a bbq restaurant, You get brought a big bucket (looks like a giant flowerpot) full of charcoal and a metal plate that looks like a hat to sit on top of it. You get a kettle of broth which you pour into the brim of the hat and then you go to the buffett section of the restaurant and choose from all different marinated meats, huge prawns and squid. You also get a basket of vegetables together and some bowls of sauces and noodles and fried rice. There are loads of other things too-tofus/bean curds meat substitutes that we just don't have.
Back at the table you use chop sticks to put your mean on the top of the hat to cook and break up vegetables and cook them in the broth. We were very well looked after and shown what to do otherwise it would've been really hard. The Thai's seemed quite pleased that we didn't have anything simillar in England.
We ate for about 2 hours. You can keep going back for mopre bits and there's even a big griddle in the middle where you can cook whole fish and kebabs. Thai people have an amazing stamina for eating-Kim you'd be impressed. Afterwards there was ice cream and we sat around discussing each others fatness which is not only acceptable but almost obligatory even though no one has any extra weight on them!
It was a really lovely experience and I was amazed that whatever you eat you pay a small flat fee for the meal and they even bring you charcoal top-ups to enable you to keep going.
Hope you enjoy this random news. Love Jo xxx
The bbq itself.
The electric bbq in the bar.
Yesterday Christian and his girlfriend took us to a bbq restaurant, You get brought a big bucket (looks like a giant flowerpot) full of charcoal and a metal plate that looks like a hat to sit on top of it. You get a kettle of broth which you pour into the brim of the hat and then you go to the buffett section of the restaurant and choose from all different marinated meats, huge prawns and squid. You also get a basket of vegetables together and some bowls of sauces and noodles and fried rice. There are loads of other things too-tofus/bean curds meat substitutes that we just don't have.
Back at the table you use chop sticks to put your mean on the top of the hat to cook and break up vegetables and cook them in the broth. We were very well looked after and shown what to do otherwise it would've been really hard. The Thai's seemed quite pleased that we didn't have anything simillar in England.
We ate for about 2 hours. You can keep going back for mopre bits and there's even a big griddle in the middle where you can cook whole fish and kebabs. Thai people have an amazing stamina for eating-Kim you'd be impressed. Afterwards there was ice cream and we sat around discussing each others fatness which is not only acceptable but almost obligatory even though no one has any extra weight on them!
It was a really lovely experience and I was amazed that whatever you eat you pay a small flat fee for the meal and they even bring you charcoal top-ups to enable you to keep going.
Hope you enjoy this random news. Love Jo xxx
The bbq restaurant,
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