Upgrades

Hey everyone, Sean here. We've arrived in Thailand and it's quite different here from the last two countries we've visited. We knew we were in for a change when the beers at the airport cost us $5 each, approximately 5 times more than any other beer in Cambodia or Vietnam.

The airport was sleek and modern and well equipped to take our money, which we managed to resist, mostly. They don't accept the dollar as readily as they do in Cambodia or Vietnam, which is good as it pertains to national pride and bad as it pertains to our convenience (which is very important).

The plan all along was for the Thailand portion of the trip to be completely relaxing and over the top luxurious compared to the rest of the trip. We were nervous that these dreams wouldn't be realized because all we had to go on as far as the resort was concerned was a tiny little photo that could easily have been photoshopped.

Turns out we needn't have worried. Behold:

It was a bit overcast on our first morning, which isn't as bad as it sounds but I'm hoping for a partial refund. We paid for the sun damnit.

We ate poolside at the hotel on the first night overlooking the ocean. The resort is built into the hillside at the end of a peninsula and offers breathtaking views of both the bay and the ocean. Our room, sadly, has a breathtaking view of a dirty bamboo fence. We tried to upgrade and the only room available was a villa with its own pool, jacuzzi, and bathroom the size of most bedrooms. The room didn't have the best view and we weren't willing to pay triple the cost so we passed. The infinity pool overlooking the bay will do just fine, thank you.

We spent most of our first day (today) laying by the pool drinking margaritas, reading books, dipping in the pool, and getting some sun. Ok, Jas was getting sun and I was doing my best to avoid it. When you're as pale as I am the sun is not quite so friendly. Somehow I still managed to burn my shoulders. Sun 1 Sean 0.

We did a little bit of exploring in the afternoon and discovered a few beach-side restaurants offering decent prices and broad menus. We wound up dining at one, sitting at a table on the beach a few meters from the surf while the sun set spectacularly behind the clouds. I'm really not trying to rub it in, but this place is downright fantastic.


Tomorrow we're going to rent a scooter which I'm going to learn how to drive and take us around the island exploring. Yes, it is as dangerous as it sounds but we're going to do it anyway. Oh, and they drive on the left side of the road here, a nice little obstacle we probably don't need. Pray for us. In the afternoon we're going to rent jet skis and rip around the bay for awhile. Should be good times.