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...The night air was thick and humid. But at least it was quiet. As my tired head held up no longer, it banged against the window pane on the bumpy ride to the border. I woke to a surreal scene of thick fog as we stopped for food. With a parched mouth following my 4am munch of a melted chocolate bar, I bought some veg filled pao and crawled back into the bus for sleep...
The Land of Smiles
Asha Patel2006-08-23 10:55:14
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Rating: 4.00 out of 5.00. 1 members have rated this article
-- MALAYSIA TO THAILAND: KO PHA NGAN --
...The night air was thick and humid. But at least it was quiet. As my tired head held up no longer, it banged against the window pane on the bumpy ride to the border. I woke to a surreal scene of thick fog as we stopped for food. With a parched mouth following my 4am munch of a melted chocolate bar, I bought some veg filled pao and crawled back into the bus for sleep...
...the border crossing was smooth and painless and I couldn't help but smile at yet another new stamp in my quickly filling passport. Crossing into the southern provinces, although akin to northern Malaysian, I felt distinctly better. The peaceful yellow flags of Buddhism flying smoothly beside the national Thai ones, symbolising the serence flow of life that runs through this country. This really was, the "land of smiles"...
...arriving into the transport hub of Hadyai I bought a ticket for the five hour ride to Surat Thani, crammed into a rickety minibus like chickens in a cart. From there, another ticket bought me a ride to the ferry terminal and a boat across to the island of Ko Pha Ngan. Waiting at the ferry terminal I felt more homesick than ever. Had a magic fairy appeared, LHR bound ticket in hand, I would've looked up at the skies and thanked the heavens. Alas, no such fairy turned up and, without a magical wand of my own I boarded the ferry. On the ferry ride across to the island, feeling exhausted and homesick, I wondered whether I should make a premature return to England...
...Ko Pha Ngan. Yes, infamous for it's full moon parties and drug taking party-goers. Alas, it was not for partying that I chose this island over all the others. Having discoverd Cookies bungalows, it is here on the quiet west coast that I will take refuge in the calm before moving to the storm that is Bangkok...
...A sparkling gem in the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Pha Ngan was exactly the repos I needed at the end
...
See photographs from:
Thailand Gallery
