Thailand - Bangkok: Seizing the last day

Woke up around 8am, went for breakfast and then to the pool again, enjoying the view by day. The hotel had given us a late check out of 1pm so we had all the time in the world to enjoy the  ammenties again. I'm officially in love with the view!

By 12pm we were packed, stored our luggage at the hotel and were off for one last day in Bangkok. First stop: Wat Pho with the large reclining buddha.

Then back to Kao San Road for lunch and souvenier shopping for the Dr.

Thailand: Koh Samui --> Don Sak --> Surat Thani --> Bangkok OR "One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster"

Another day of getting up early, pick up from the hotel was at 6:30am for the 8am ferry to Don Sak on the mainland. Then on to the bus to Surat Thani from where our flight back to Bangkok was leaving at 4pm.

The plan was to check out Surat Thani before heading to the airport, so we got out in the city instead of staying on the bus to the airport. We quickly noticed: fail. Surat Thani was dirty with nothing to see or do and not place to store our luagge. I guess there is a reason why my Lonely Planet had nothing to say about the city except that travellers usually don't stay long. And that's exactly what we did after about 10 minutes of wandering around in two different directions to check whether there is ANYTHING to see. So we bargained with the next available taxi driver for the fare to the airport and a few minutes later were on our way – in one of those open pick up truck taxis. 

When we arrived at the airport we saw „our“ bus leaving so we didn't lose much time and had about 5 hours to spend at Surat Thani International Airport...

...which is tiny with very few shops and eateries. But we had WiFi, so the Dr. was happy :) and we had time to plan what to see and do on our last day in Bangkok. Like my sugar stick said :):

Before we got on the plane we had (a bad) lunch which Rafa suffered from later on.

Back in Bangkok we handled the taxi situation like pros :) and were in Bangkok commuter traffic on a Friday night in no time inching our way towards the city. It took the hotel driver a little while to find the hotel, but it was so worth saving the best hotel for last. Swimming in the hotel's infinity pool with the view of the Bangkok skyline was amazing! And so is the room, also with views of Bangkok.

For our final night we had also saved a visit to the Sorroco rooftop bar, the highest rooftop bars. You might know it from the movie „Hangover 2“. The views from up there were stunning! This really was the perfect last night in Bangkok! Unfortunately though the Dr. couldn't join us because he had hurt his foot and hence stayed at the hotel.

Thailand - Koh Samui: Finding Nemo

Today we did a half day snorkeling tour, since we had not done that on the No. 1 diving and snorkeling island Koh Tao and today was our last chance. Pick up at the hotel was 8:20am, so another early morning start. The drive to the pier  Thong Krut Beach was about 45 mins, slowed down by a crane in front of us. There was a guy standing on the crane who had to lift wires, banners and anything else that was hanging too low for the crane to pass. :)

Once we were at the pier we transferred on to a long tail boat, the typical Thai boat. 

Our driver seemed half asleep, but since we were in the open ocean with nothing around us it wasn't too dangerous. :) 

When we arrived at Koh Tan, apparently the best coral reef in the area, the guides started feeding the fish with bread and they came in sheer masses. 

Too many fish in a small spot for my taste so I was struggling to even get into the water. Plus I couldn't really get comfortable with the snorkel and breathing through it AND the water was really shallow and I hate touching corals or anything else in the sea so the first snorkeling stop was not too much fun for me and I didn't spent too much in the water before returining onto the boat - earning me the "pussy of the day" title. :) (The Doctor earned that title yesterday for being afraid of cooking and Rafa on Koh Tao when the massage lady was to tough on his sunburn during the aloe vera sunburn massage).

We then went to Koh Mudsum for a snack and beach stop.

After lunch we went back to Koh Tan for some more snorkeling. This time the Dr. fixed my snorkel and I enjoyed the hour of snorkeling. I did not find Nemo, but many of his friends including one with orange & white stripes but a sharp mouth, one that looked like a leopard, pretty striped ones and rainbow fishes. So cool to just float around and watch them in their natural habitat!

On the way back the boat broke down, but with about a half hour delay and another boat from the same company coming by the tour guides were able to fix it. 

The tour guides trying to fix the boat

I was so hungry for lunch by the time we got back :), we had Thai food again - two different kinds of curries, fries chicken and fried vegetable balls. Yummy!

Regular Thai traffic :)

Back at the hotel I spent the rest of the afternoon by the pool concluding the week of island life.

Back to the big city tomorrow.

Thailand - Koh Samui: Thai Cooking Class

Rafa convinced us to sign up for a Thai cooking class at the Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts this afternoon and it was actully really fun - first cooking experiment for the Dr. ;) We were a very international group (Germany, Poland, Canada, Australia and Spain) and had a good time while learning to cook Thai specialties. 

First we made Phad Thai...

...then a coconut milk soup with chicken...

Key ingredients for the soup: chili, kaffir lime leaves, Thai ginger, shallots & corainder root

...and last but not least a green curry with homemade green curry paste. 

baby eggplant

Green curry paste ingredients

coriander seeds, cumin seeds, anis seeds & black pepper

After preparing all three dishes it was time for the actual cooking.

Ready to cook the Phad Thai

The finish product - it was delicious!

Coconut milk soup with chicken

Green curry with chicken

It was all delicious, way tastier than at most restaurants here but sadly we couldn'd finish it all.

We were so full we tried to walk back to the hotel, even though that was faaar. Some highlights along the way:

A 24h gas station...notice the gas is in the bottles :)

...and a trustyworthy looking tattoo parlor