Shan in Japan

Currently staying just out of Krabi on a beach called Tonsai.  Beautiful spot.  Huge limestone cliffs everywhere, which draws a crowd from all over the world to climb the faces.  I've been climbing nearly everyday and finally my hands are strong enough to hold on long enough to make some of the more interesting climbs.  Christmas was just another day on the beach.  Did my advanced open water diving certificate, which basically consisted of diving down deep and seeing how intoxicated we could get from nitrogen narcosis, and few more fun dives chasing an octopus to see how many different colours it could change into.  

Will probably spend New Year on Phi Phi island.  Need to get back up to Bangkok and pick up my visa to India.  I like this place so much, I might do a side trip to Burma and come back down to Krabi to do some diving in the Similan islands in late January.   Well, time to reflect on 2005, perhaps think of some new year resolutions...

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2006

Well what a farce!  The infamous Full Moon Party - biggest bash in SE Asia was a fizzer this month.  Mainly due to the weather. I didn't see one bit of blue sky during the entire week there.  Wind and rain dampened things especially as two unfortunate Swedish girls drowned in the churning sea, the day before the party. Authorities shut down the beach, so no parties there understandably.  Still, the Irish lads I was with didn't let things like that spoil their evening.  We body painted ourselves (and each other), consumed a few buckets of vodka and redbull and revelled away as best we could.  For the next two nights we repeated this (minus the body paint, that stuff just gets everywhere) and each successive night just got better and better.  Haad Rin, the small town that had to cope with all us 'farang' yobs was starting to stink with overflowing sewers, rubbish everywhere and general unpleasantness when seen in a sober manner.  Still, it was one of those 'been there, done that' things to tick off the list.  Ko Pha Ngan is a beautiful place with lots of nice little health and yoga retreats.  Full moon parties are good fun by all means, but highly overrated.

Now on the west coast in Krabi and went rock climbing today.  It's left me with a limp handshake, but beautiful views - very similar to my experience in China climbing the karsts of Yangshuo, only this time surrounded by sea.  More climbing tomorrow, then over to PhiPhi island, where I'll probably end up spending Christmas there.  Have great Christmas everyone! 

Just updated my movements over the last few months.  Been neglecting this a bit.

http://www.dokonano.com/shanakin

Now at Koh PhaNgan.  This is more like it.  Great atmosphere with people streaming in from all over the globe for the Fullmoon Party tomorrow night.  Bit of a typhoon type storm blasting the place at the moment, but should clear up they say.  Always can count on 'they'.  Got myself set up in a bungalow overlooking the beach.  Hammock and book.  Taking it easy as I'm trying to purge this flu out of my system, so I can go do some diving.  Will report on the fullmoon bash later!

Now in the island paradise of Koh Samui. Well, that depends what your idea of paradise is.  If you're into luxury spa resorts and sitting on the beach doing nothing, while still having all the conveniences of McDonalds and Starbucks, then this is the place for you.  After two days, its all a bit boring really.  Weather has been rainy and windy, which hasn't helped my experience of the place. Circumnavigated the island on a motorbike.  Definitely some beautiful and secluded beaches to explore.  Found a few places that do kitesurfing.   Would love to give it a go again, but at US$100 a day just to rent equipment, its beyond my budget.  If I really want to get into it, better off buying my own rig and spending a good couple of weeks here.  Will think that one over. 

On a boat to Koh Phan ngan tomorrow morning.  Fullmoon party is looming up on the 16th, so want to get there and sort out accomodation asap.   

I must have taken over 300 photos during my week stay at Angkor Wat!  I've uploaded a few of the highlights here: http://imageevent.com/shanakin/cambodia

Also a few shots of Muaythai boxing: http://imageevent.com/shanakin/thailand

Whats going on with the Japanese yen?! It's weakened so much now. No more rooms with hot showers and airconditioning for a while...:-( When I was in Thailand last year, everything seemed cheap when coming from Japan, but compared to the other countries in SE Asia, it's definitely the most developed and expensive! It's good though, I went to the movie theatre yesterday and kicked back in a deluxe seat - it's like a lazyboy armchair. There are ATMs and convenience stores everywhere - all the signs of being back in a developed country. Everything is so easy here, no wonder its the first stop for many travellers to ease into the SE Asia circuit. I'm staying on 'good ol' Khao San road. An amazing zoo of (mainly) youth travellers. Everyone is getting something pierced, tattooed or braided. I like the vibe here, so much excitement. You can see it on the faces of those who have just flown in. They can't wait to go and do some crazy stuff! It's super busy at the moment, perhaps many have come for the fullmoon party on next week down in Ko Pangang.

Nothing like being blasted around the streets of Bangkok on a tuk tuk. I sat sprawled out and hanging on nervously as my driver dropped the clutch fast on his highly tuned 2-stroke engine at every green light. Surprisingly, you can get a comfortable airconditioned taxi for the same price as a tuk tuk, but I don't think they get you to your destination as quickly!! Checked out Muaythai boxing last night. I've never seen a boxing match or any competitive fighting before, as I've never had any interest. This was pretty cool however. I had ringside seats, so got to see the action close up. I found myself jumping up and shouting with the rest of the crowd in final round of each match. It's very contagious! They have drums beating and an instrument that sounds like a 'snake enchanter' playing each round.  Very tribal.  The normally reserved Thais just go beserk, especially as they placing bets on each match.

Off to Ko Samui tomorrow.  Keen to have a go at kitesurfing again! 

Been here nearly a week now and just love this place!  Everyday I've been on my bike exploring the ruins of ancient Khmer and manage to find a some nooks where I can sit down, put on some sounds and admire the efforts of Khmer art.  Huge sandstone bas-reliefs depict tales of Hindu and Buddhist deities and gods.  Everything is so intricate and covers huge expanses.  I didn't think I would be so interested in this stuff and expected to get "temple burnout" after a few days, but I keep going back for more.   Even dragged myself out of bed at 4:30am to see the sunrise over Angkor Wat.  Of course I wasn't the only one with this idea, as dozens of other tourist jostled for the best vantange point.  It really amazes me that a civilization as grand as the Khmer Empire has fallen to what is now Cambodia.  Beautiful place and great people by all means, but just so poor!! 

I've been teaching English (also a bit of Japanese) to kids at a monastery, where the monks volunteer to teach the kids who can't afford to go to school.  They are so keen to learn, which makes teaching really easy.  The classroom is just a wooden shack with dirt floors and planks of wood nailed together for desks.  I bought a book off a landmine victim with no hands.  Poor guy keep dropping the money I paid him, so I had to put it in his shirt pocket for him.  This country really slaps you in the face to make you realise how fortunate you are. 

I'm staying at a guesthouse with a crocodile farm out the back.  Absolutely huge crocs! They seem to sit docile all day long and save their energy to devour chickens at feeding time.  Beer here is 50cents and happy hours seems to go on until midnight.  Very easy to over indulge in these circumstances;-) 

One more dawn mission to the ruins tomorrow, then on a bus to Bangkok.   The road sounds treacherous as it takes 4-5 hours to cover 150km to the Thai border....