Well I'm still on Samui! I stumbled upon an restaurant/bar on the main road (4169) near the Lamai turnoff called "Cheap Charlies". Went in & met a guy called Paul who's Thai/Cambodian partner is running the place. It serves a great English breakfast for 99B - I was hooked and even ate scrambled eggs every day! I got talking to Paul and found out that he used to do business with one of my uncles - small world eh? He now runs http://www.onlyinsamui.com/ and is based here. I met his circle of expat friends and was sort of taken under their collective wings, so I've spent a fair amount of time with them. Got an education on most things Thai! Paul & his friend Andy are great guys. Andy has lived in various parts of Thailand and was very informative.
I spent numerous days doing very little - big breakfasts, numerous cups of tea and a few beers while chatting. I kept thinking I should have a look around the Island but for that you need a motorbike and Samui's roads are notorious - a westerner (farang) dies every week! Yesterday I bit the bullet & hired a bike, a semi automatic 4 geared 100cc machine. It's been a godsend. I've seen some of what Samui has to offer!
Met a wonderful couple from Germany today at Cheap Charlies, Chris & Yeleana (sorry about the spelling!). Chris is a musician and plays in several bands. Check out www.myspace.com/marcandthemillioaires or www.myspace.com/radioroadwest or www.myspace.com/trafficjamsongs or http://www.radioroadwest.com/ . We made arrangements to meet tomorrow to do the Big Buddha and maybe some other tourist attractions after that.
Things took a funny old turn after that. Myself, Paul, Andy & Big Bill the American were all making arrangements when a guy that has a long running feud with Paul turned up. Words were exchanged and the next thing we knew a pint of Hydrochloric acid had been thrown in Paul's face. We doused him with water, got him to hospital followed by the police station and another hospital with an eye specialist? Looks like at best he'll have impaired vision in his left eye.
Pardon the pun but this was a real eye opener for me. The first thing the ambulance crew asked for was his insurance. We said he has none and that he has no money as medical treatment on Insurance or for rich farang is a huge scam here. So they took Paul & myself to Na Thon hospital where they washed his eyes out with two litres of saline, said he needs an eye specialist which wasn't available on the Island and turfed us out, not before demanding payment for the little they had done. In fact that's not fair, 566 baht for an ambulance journey there & back, treatment & cream & painkillers.
After our visit to the Police station some funds became available and what do you know? There is an eye specialist at the swanky Bangkok Samui Hospital - specially built to treat Thai's that can afford it and well insured tourists. This place looks like a 5 star hotel. Praise the NHS! At least in the UK rich & poor alike are entitled to the same free treatment.
10/07/08
Ok folks I'm in Koh Phangnan. Staying at http://www.coralhaadrin.com/ . I'm hoping to move from here tomorrow. My passport was demanded at check in and when I refused I was almost shouted at. Reluctantly I handed it over although I'm really not happy about it. Apparently it's illegal to hold someones passport but the Thai's like to do it. That way they can demand money from you in order for you to get it back. Most of the motorcycle hire places do that. This is the first guesthouse that's ever done it to me - never again - I'll look for somewhere else from now on!
On top of that it's a really young party crowd here. I've sat through at least two meals on my own without anyone making even the slightest effort at chatting, I'm too old, ugly or smelly for these lot of too cool for school types!
Everything here is expensive, Internet is three times more, transport is more, beer is more, food is more, accommodation is more! So I'm moving! Will move away from Haad Rin and see what I find. May even head over to Koh Tao earlier than I anticipated. Take care folks xxx
3 comments:
I was wondering where you had got to!
Sounds like you need to get to Koh Tao as it looks a more relaxed island from what I've seen on the internet.
I hope your friend Paul doesn't suffer too much long term damage to his eye.
Can't believe you've been eating EGGS!!??!!
Take care J x
Who's a fatty - you must stop the big breakfasts! Not allergic to eggs no more eh? lol!
Wicked pics, defo a real elephant this time, love the buddha.
After that incident you're probably pleased to be off Samui, Phangnan didn't sound like fun, have to be in with the in crowd eh? Old - yes!, ugly - nahhh, smelly - probably! Sorry babes, couldn't resist!
Hope Tao is better for you, if not back to the mainland..?
Miss ya, me xxx
Saw Josie last nite - she says 'Love you', me xxx
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