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Taking it up the tailpipe
Our overnight 'VIP' bus direct to Ko Samui island turned out to be this rust-bucket instead. En route we checked our cash fund and found a light fingered deck hand had relieved us of $800 during one of our dive trips! On arrival, we checked our online accounts and found that the Bank of China had randomly stolen $800 from our accounts for rejected ATM transactions! By the time we hit our island resort we were spitting with impotent rage. |
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Real men drink piña colada
Po helps Magnus drink away those robbed-blind blues. Proof (if any were required) that it is possible to drink a girlie cocktail and still remain manly. |
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Swimmin' in the rain...
Po auditions for the new series of his favourite TV drama, the Hulk. Monsoon rains again enhanced our beach break. This time unseasonable downpours hit Ko Samui for 3 days in the run up to New Year. Refusing to bow to the weather we kept on swimming (after all, we were wet anyway). |
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Po takes us off-road
Quite literally at one point during this exploration of the jungle interior of Ko Samui as we slithered backwards down a muddy hill track while Po struggled frantically to engage 4-wheel drive. |
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A bridge over troubled water
Ever the gentleman, Magnus enlarges himself to gigantic proportions to form a human bridge so tiny Marijke can cross the swollen river. |
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Hazardous Hogmanay on Ko Samui beach
As the bells approached, various amateur pyrotechnicians ignored the strong on-shore breeze to fire off fireworks that caught in the breeze and boomeranged back on top of the crowds. As the big moment arrived, some idiot let off this giant Roman Candle which proceeded to shower us with burning embers. So it was that we saw in the New Year with the exotic smells of burning hair and singed flesh in our nostrils. |
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Man of the Month: January - Mr Po Yu
Against the better judgement of the editors, Po insisted that this shot be included. He particularly wanted to note the firm toning of his buttocks and insisted that no mention be made of his intense (and slightly worrying) love of baby powdering himself as part of his post shower ablutions. A prize for the best viewers caption to this photo - submit your entry in the guestbook now! |
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Our diving posse
After diving with manta rays, white-tip and nurse sharks, moray eels, sea turtles, wreck dives, night dives and giant boulder swim-throughs all within two days we were exhilarated but exhausted. Definitely time to sit on a beach doing nothing for a while. |
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Don't be fooled
Though you may think you are looking at a man-eating white-tip shark and a giant manta ray this is, in fact Magnus and Po. No, really! |
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You call that a cake?!
Po impressively fakes pleasure at the presents and raisin bun (masquerading - poorly - as a cake) that made up his 32nd birthday gift. |
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Life on the edge
is better than no life at all. Here Po and Marijke flaunt the horrific statistics for moped-related accidents to zip around the Andaman coast. |
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Kitted up for serious white water rafting
Strange as we kayaked through the Khao Lak National Park that the water was never more than about a foot deep. Then again, as we know, you can drown in 3 inches of water! |
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The agony and the ecstasy
After a gripping hand badminton challenge, Po comes out victorious while Magnus curses the cruel gods of fate. |
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Cooking up a storm
Our main goal in Thailand was to learn Thai cooking. During this 2 day course we practiced loads of our favourite dishes like spring rolls, red roast duck curry, green chicken curry, pad thai as well as the altogether more useless skill of vegetable carving! |
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Muay Thai Kickboxing - rule 1: get the first punch in
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Rule 2: But don't let your guard down
We entered our ringside seats at the Chiang Mai kickboxing arena to the less than spectacular sight of two 3-foot tall 12 year olds fighting. Finally the main event arrived which made gruesome but compelling viewing with knees, elbows and feet flying all over the shop. A lot of western 'hard men' come to train at the Thai boxing camps - few make it past the first day's training - this stuff is brutal. |
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Chiang Mai - temple-tastic
The northern capital of Chiang Mai is a relaxed town whose ancient centre is surrounded by a picturesque moat. The town has more than 100 temples including this atmospheric golden creation overlooking the town. |
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Is that a gecko on your head or are you just pleased to see me?
Time to part with Po and Marijke who were off jungle trekking while we were bound for Laos to intercept Doug & Sarah again. Useful parting gifts they gave us included tiger balm (used for pretty much any ailment!) and a sticky gecko. See you in 2 months! |
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