Big City

After what seemed like an eternity in Goa I am happy to head back to a big city, if only for one day. Tomorrow I will leave for Hong Kong and a night of relaxation in the local InterContinental hotel. I need to get up early to catch the 10:05 AM flight to Bali, but I am sure I can squeeze in some shopping.

Working on that Tan...

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How About a Nice Massage?

Today I wondered if I would go for a nice massage. However, after reading the brochure of the hotel spa and the benefits of their treatments, I passed...



Still cheap though!

Solar Fatigue

If there is such a thing I have it today. I am almost hoping for a tropical depression to bring some clouds and rain. Mind you, it is a passing event, no doubt. I am far to happy by the pool for it to last. Maybe it has something to do with the ridiculously high humidity and soaring temperatures (35+) here in Goa. If you blink, you sweat. And I don’t normally sweat. Ah well, embarrassment of riches I suppose.

Whatever it is, today I am staying ‘home’ with the air-conditioning at maximum.

Coronation Street meets India

This Dona Sylvia resort is a strange place. It comes highly recommended but I fail to see why. The rooms are nice and the grounds are lovely. It is close to the beach and the weather is great. So, what is the problem? Well, the place is filled with guests who seem to have escaped the set of the TV series Coronation Street. All working class Britons in other words with loud voices and huge (and I do mean H U G E) beer-bellies. They really look like they will drop dead on the spot. Woman even worse than man, mind you. Everyone over 50 (God only knows how they managed that!) and it is one big happy British get-together...

They love to play together



Remember: these are the fit ones!

However, I am still enjoying myself. No point in stressing out now, is there? Breakfast here is a mess by the way. They really cannot get their act together. How many waiters does it take to get me a cup of tea? Below is the god-honest answer!



The tea is pitch black (remember, Marco?) and the toast is rock hard. The guy who fries the eggs does not understand English so no matter what you order, this is what you get.



There are hardly any alternatives. I think I will skip breakfast and do an early lunch on the beach instead. The food there is not too bad. Still no Bombay Post...



The view is marginally better though... :)



Greetings from the weary traveler!



PS: You see Pallavi, I am getting there! :)

Got to Goa

After a grueling 24hrs I have arrived in Goa. So far, so good. As Pallavi once told me, it is a lot like Bali. To tired to do much exploring so far. Here are some first impressions.

My room



The view over my balcony



My Pied a Terre from the outside



The beach



I am not ready to depend on them for life saving...



The pool



And the only drawback so far...



They have a hairdresser here, so I am going to get my hair cut. Short.

Homesick already...

After a very enjoyable flight (thanks to my very entertaining Dutch seat mate) I have arrived safely in Bangkok. After sailing through transit I am now waiting for my next flight to Mumbai. It may be strange, but I do think I feel a little homesick for my beautiful little Koh Phangan resort...

Cutest Airport in the World

Ok, I must admit: Joost was right. Koh Samui is most probably the cutest airport in the world. It has a little avenue with shops and restaurants on either side and it all looks very tropical. I just enjoyed a lovely massage and had a terrific lunch. In total for less that €20,-...



Off to Goa it is. I am ready... Somewhat...

Only three more days in Paradise

It won't be long now. Just as I am getting to think of Sunset Cove as my home I need to start making arrangements for my trip back to Koh Samui. Feb 16th I will fly to Bangkok and onwards to Mumbai and eventually Goa. Don't really want to leave. I will definitely return here, most likely early march 2012.

Enough complaining already. I have heard Goa is nice too.



Not looking forward to the 24+ hr trip though.

Ok, the Other Thing happened too...

Today I was actually bored for the first time. After 6 weeks the daily diet of sun, music, books, swimming and sleeping got the better of me. Luckily this happened around 5PM so a good time for a walk. I took some pictures to make you guys more jealous...

This is just around the corner.


About 400 meters from the hotel there is this bar on the beach.


The pool just before sunset


The pool at sunset


A water taxi/fishing boat/ferry/whatever you want them to be


The actual sunset


Oh and my neighbor says 'hi'. He lives in my garden.

It Has Happened!

Utter relaxation has set in. I honestly don't think a person can be more relaxed than I am right now. I had always wondered if I would not get bored with lying on a beach and reading books (reading The Satanic Versus now and it is interesting) but no.



I have a fixed routine and that always benefits the true ADD sufferer. 9:30 I get up and have my breakfast, do some internet things and slowly make my way to the deck chair.

My regular view


After an hour or so I need cooling off and go for a swim, either in the pool or in the sea for half an hour or so. Repeat about 5 times.

The hotel as seen from the sea


Then it is time for a movie after which dinner and another movie. Occasionally this routine is cruelly interrupted by people who want to be friendly. Ah well, not a total hermit after all...

A good place for a chat and a beer. Er... Diet Coke of course!


The coastline in front of the hotel


Cheers from the warm side of the globe!

South Africa, here we come

What is the strangest thing to do when you are on vacation? Right. Booking another one. Still, since award seats on the flights to SA are few and far between I needed to act. So next January I will be taking Mommy Dearest to Kruger Park and Cape Town. In style.



Here in Koh Phangan relaxation has now really set in. I have elevated the art of lying by the pool and doing absolutely nothing to a new level. The suntan is now also up to par, so I do not have to bother with suntan lotion any more. There is absolutely nothing to do on this island (like anticipated) and I like that. The only thing you can do is go to the huge house parties they have here almost every night. However, I have partied enough in my life and I am not even tempted.

Here's to reading good books, eating wonderful food and meeting nice people!