Life in Samui

Giving thanks in our Samui Hotel

              Given the recent Bangkok paracivil war, we decided to leave New Zealand with altered travel plans.   We made an overnight stop at Bangkok  (stayed at an airport hotel).  Then, it was off to Koh Samui, a small exotic island in the Thai Gulf for 10 days    Our plan was to avoid the hot politics of Bangkok City.   We arrived at our Thai destination of Samui, safely (though Al lost his sunglasses).

          We've been taking in the tourist sites.  We've seen Buddhist temples, trekked thru the jungles on elephants and ATV, spent a day at world famous Koh Tau for diving, and shopped in the local markets (to name a few).  Of course, we had several Thai massages to spoil ourselves.   The local weather continued to be "same same"--steamy hot (even by Thai standards) with no rain.  We were safe and far away from the violent political quarrels in Bangkok.   

      On Sunday, we'll leave Samui to our next stop.   Our current plans include a 2 hour stop in Bangkok to change planes from Samui.   Then, it's onward to Hong Kong.   

Thai snapshots:

A Mother's Day Trip of siteseeing including a stop at the Big Buddha temple.  We removed our hats and shoes to be proper.

From our boating trips around the nearby islands with snorkelling, kayaking, and a special day of diving at Koh Tau (awesome).

Exotic fruits from the local farms including Dragon fuit (pink skinned) and mystery fruit (small multicolored/hairy things) 

Our beautiful hotel  at night as we are off to a fine Thai dinner

 A local street peddler is going to market with handmade brooms.  The Thai staff of local hotels use these brooms for cleaning.

The Last Chapter

     

"Yesterday was History.  Tommorrow is a Mystery.  Today is a Gift, and that is why we call it the Present"      

          This quote was from "The Mindful Groups" on Fridays with Dr. Samir Heble.  It has been hard to live in the moment with packing and planning our trip back home.   However, our checklists were getting smaller.  The suitcases and boxes were mostly  packed.   Al completed his last day at Taranki District Base Hospital, last week.  Gabe will go one more time to class at New Plymouth Boy's High School on Tuesday.  It has come down to those final moments. 

       We had magic times-- tramps, climbed a volcano, Fiji, Australia, glow worms, rappelling, new friends, high school, surfing and diving (to name a few).  However, it's time. The last leg of our journey thru Asia will begin on Thurs. May 6, 2010.   It will be living out of suitcases for three weeks in Thailand, Hong Kong, and China.   Touch down is scheduled for May 27 in the States.   

         We hope that you were entertained and inspired by our story.  It's been fun reading your comments (here is you last chance) and sharing our highlights.  Thanks to many people includingAlec, Emily, and grandpa/grandma for making this trip a possibility.   Rachel, Dennis, Connie and the gang at CR Psychiatry were great during our leave.   Hats off to our Kiwi neighbors, T.D.B.H. coworkers,  and many friends from the States that supported us.  Here's to livin'  the dream.

 A few of the Kiwi treasures:

Chili chocoalate, good wine, and feijoas from the local vineyard

   The name that says you're proud.

-Barbwire: Taranaki Farm Land

-Stars: Southern Cross

-Wings of Freedom:  Its a style of life

-Cog: oil and engineering

-Mountain and Surf: Ours to Treasure 

Mount Taranaki in Oct. 2009--covered with snow

An upclose look at Charlie and Jo's favorite wines. Otago on South Island has good Pinot Noir grapes.  Tastes good with blue oysters from Invercrgill.

Charlie, Jo, Al, and I waiting for dinner at Butler's Reef