Beach Break, Koh Lanta, Thailand

Jan 10th, 2012

Public bus to bus to airport. Singapore airport budget terminal isn't
all that nice. Plane to Krabi.

STUFFED minivan to Koh Lanta. There were too many people and the
driver kept trying to get a girl to move to the back (where there were
no more seats) and she kept resisting since she paid for a
seat.Eventually the driver gave up and told the 2 extra people they
had to wait for the next van. They piled all the luggage, and tons of
huge bags, on the top.

Arrived at Chill out house on Koh Lanta. It's made mostly out of
driftwood and recycled materials. I slept in "Floating" a bed out in
the middle of everything the first night. Moved to a closed(ish) room
the next when it came open. There is tons of Driftwood art. Neng and
the rest of the guests/workers were awesome. I got to explore the
outdoor kitchen. Washing dishes in cold water, always fun. The cold
showers though I could have done without. Hard to rinse my hair.

Spent the next few days making frineds and doing much of nothing. One
sunrise hike on the beach, and several walks to the main road to get
tasty inexpensive dinner. One pretty good massage and beer and company
in the evenings. A good rest place for a while.

With a bit over 3 weeks still to go I got talked into visiting the
philippines by an english woman I met. She raves about it so much,
I'll have to check it out. Booked a flight out of Bangkok, and now I
just have to take the train there.

Singapore!

Jan 8th

Decided to head to Singapore for a few days to stay with a couchsurfer. Took a SUPER VIP bus there (only 18 seats, lots of legroom and recline), almost 6 hrs with immigration. Made it through, though aparently the bus only waits for you for 20min. If you don't make it in that time they leave without you and you have to get a ticket on another bus.  Met JoAnna at vivocity, then got desert (for dinner). I got Mango Pomello Sago (Fresh mango and pomello with Mango pudding and small tapioca pearls as far as I can tell) it was wonderful. I also got to try mango dumplings (like mochi) and a mango pancake (mango puree? and whipped cream wrapped in a thin pancake into a small package) and hot black seseme paste. Everything was very, very good.  After desert we walked to see the harborfront for a brief,  very pretty view.

Prices here seem to be about equal with US prices (a little lower but not much). With the Singapore Dollar being almost one to one, it's not the cheapest city to visit. Still ok for a few days. 

Jan 9th was an insane day, trying to fit in all of Singapore! J and I had breakfast in a nearby food court type area, I got roasted duck noodles. Then I took off on my own with a map and bus/Metro schedule. Bus to Little india, wandered through the wonderful smelling streets, oh the spices! Then walked to Arab street and checked out the shops, pretty much all the same. 

After a bit of random wandering lost I managed to find the convention center and wandered through the mall a bit before snacking on an iced Peach Jelly. With Peach jelled stuff, shaved ice and Large tapoica pearls? Then more walking around. It's such a clean city with lots of green space. Tons of construction though. Eventually found the National Museam and spent several hours wandering through it. There was a fantastic HUGE history "section", an impresionists exhibit from the Orsay in Paris, and a beautiful swinging chandelier art piece. There was also small exhibits on food, dress and photography throughout Singapore History. 

Caught the Metro (super easy, though took me asking 4 people to find the station down 4 flights of stairs in the university!) over to Chinatown which was full of people and stalls gearing up for Chinese New Year. Met up with J and checked out the opulent Buddah's Tooth temple and saw an inpressive Hindu temple. Bought Jellies and had Dim Sum for dinner. Mmmm tasty. After more wandering we headed over to the Orchard Street (shopping district) area so I could say I saw it. Had to use the bathroom and wow. Couldn't resist taking a photo. Most bathrooms this trip have been pretty jenky. This one was a 10 out of 10. Wow! Then we bussed it back to the Apartment where I bought a plane ticket for the next day! Talk about flying by the seat of my pants travel. 

Next, Back to the beaches of Thailand (or the cheapest flight out of singapore!)

Kuala Lampur, Malaysia

Jan 3rd, 2012

Headed down to Kuala Lampur via Bus. Super comfy with huge seats! Arrived at the bus station and after a few false starts, found a hostel to stay in. Lack of 3 person rooms ended me up with a dorm bed in an 8 person "all female" dorm, but the beds comfy, and the room's air-conditioned 9pm to 9am. Bloody hot the rest of the time though! Wandered a bit through Chinatown and good dinner. More starfruit juice made my evening. 

Jan 4th - Emma and Chris and Rene (we met up with another Dutch gentelman in the Cameron highlands now also traveling with us for a shirt bit) and I went wandering. On the way to find the Lake gardens, we also discovered a square, several back streets (hibiscus lampposts), that it is difficult to cross the highway, and a very pretty random rose garden. Once we finally discovered an entrance into the Park it was very nice with paved paths and "shade shelters" dotted around. Much wandering later we took a read/nap break in the shade near the lake for a while. After our break we wandered the rest of the way around the lake before finally finding the deer park. The Mouse Deer are actually cute in a disturbing way. (They are about a foot or so tall/long, sorry the mesh made photos impossible). 

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrotain, though google image searching is better]

 Also several cages with roosters in them. Not sure how they relate to deer. Found but decided to not pay the outrageous fee to go into the bird park.

Walking, and walking, and HOT, and walking.. Masjid Negara Mosque, beautiful. Couldn't go in the actual prayer room, but we got dressed in "robes" with headscarves (for the girls) and got to wander around a bit taking photos. Nice lady told us a bit about the Koran and practices of Muslims in KL. 

Dinner at the "central market" this time, air-conditioned for the win! It's more a mall than a market, still the air conditioning was great and I have learned the place to eat in Malaysia is food courts for good, cheap food.

Jan 5th - (oh, ow day) We got ambitious and decided to visit FRIM (Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia) per recommendation in the Lonely Planet book since it has a Canopy walkway. Train, taxi and walking later (with a stop to sit and eat the breakfast, Roti with egg and cheese(Indian pancakes/flatbread), we brought with us). After more walking along the sidewalk in the trees, we found the info office and bought our ticket to the canopy walkway. Then we CLIMBED. Oh ugh. Thank goodness it was shaded or I would not have made it. We went UP, and UP and up some more. 1st on a "road" like trail, then climbing a stair like dirt trail. Eventually we reached the walkway, and yes, it was worth it. 150km long, 30km up in the canopy. It's boards set on aluminum ladders with netting and ropes holding them in place. Not for those afraid of heights for sure.

Then, oh then we had to go down, which was WAY easier than I was expecting, even though the trail was rougher. We had a brief foot soaking break in a waterfall, then another break near the bottom next to another small waterfall. Made friends with a neat guy who worked for the place on his lunch break and he drove us over to the Batu Caves! Score!

The Batu Caves are big, there are big statues, and LOTS of stairs (276, hence the oh, ow day). It's beautiful but dirty. Monkeys everywhere. Many holding baby monkeys, and many perfectly willing to steal anything they can get their hands on. They were gearing up for a huge Hindu festival on the 20th or so where 40k people pour in, very glad we aren't there then. Train back to KL. They have "female only" train cars here since there are so many Muslims!

Steamboat for dinner! Pot of boiling water? in the center of the table, seafood and veggies are cooked by you on skewers in the water, and meats are grilled and brought to you at the table, dipped in a mix of sauces (seemed to be peanut, oyster, and chili). Was charged by the skewer, and somewhat pricey compared to what we have been eating at 12Ringgit (about 4$USD). :)

Jan 6th - I did nothing. Left the hostel for dinner at 7pm ish and that was it. Ow. My legs hate me.

Jan 7th - Mostly a nothing day. In the afternoon I walked to the golden triangle to catch a movie at the 9th largest mall in the world, Berjaya Times Square. There was a dragon dance inside the mall while we were there. Chinese New year is coming and they are starting to set up and prepare. Sherkock Holmes was fun, and wandering though the mall was entertaining . The half hour walk there didn't kill me, I might recover.

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Jan 1st, 2012

Starting off the new year beautifully with a trip headed to the Cameron Highlands. Despite the early start, the 4 hr minivan ride was beautiful. The interior (at least the north western bit I have seen so far) of Malaysia is gorgeous. Couldn't get a decent picture out of the van window (very curved road), but wow. Huge looming cliff like things (Buttes?) sticking out of the ground wreathed with jungle in Ipoh [insert, see Batu Caves Photo (next post) for example]. Green everywhere. Hills.

Arrived in the Cameron Highlands after a verrrry windy trip. (it got worse) Found a hostel and decided to hang out instead of exploring. Good choice since it POURED all afternoon while we hung out snug and dry playing on the internet on the covered porch, watching the rain. :P 

Tasty, tasty Indian food for dinner. 

Next day we took a 1/2 Day tour and got a few fantastic photos of the tea plantations. Climbed up a tall tower to see a grand view, did a short (and VERY MUDDY) hike/scramble/climb in the "mossy forest" that seems to have been the inspiration for the forest in Avatar. Visited a Butterfly garden and saw, surprise, butterflies. Saw a hydroponic farm and got fresh strawberry juice, though I wasn't brave enough for the Butterhead (lettuce) juice. It's gorgeous here, however it seems a bit difficult to get around if you don't take the packaged tours. Also it's been raining in the afternoons, not very condusive to hiking. 

Day 25-27 Siem Reap, Cambodia Day 28-29 Bangkok, Thailand

Sorry this is such a long one, but here it finally is!

Photos [Ta Phrom (jungle temple) and detail] [Bayon and close up] [the elephants from the elephant terrace] [Lady temple and close up] [Sunrise at Ankor Wat] [Monks at Ankor] [My little flitterkitten and a lady] [ Corridor at Ankor] [ On top of the boat] [Flooded village] [Cambodian traditional dancers]

Day 25, Homestay -> Siem Reap, Cambodia

Woke a bit early and wandered up the "road" to see the cows being led to the fields. Then went across the road to the place we had had dinner to enjoy breakfast. It was Fried scrambled Egg with LOTS of onions, Chicken fried rice, Baguetts and more Milk fruit, (more purples than greens and we got to watch them pick them off the tree with a tall notched stick and a stick with a saw on it). Also Tea and instant coffee mix (didn't dare try the tea) :P After breakfast we said our goodbyes, took a picture, and headed back onto the mini bus. 

On the way to Siem Reap, we stopped at a place on the side of the road that made sticky rice in bamboo, and we got to see how they make it, it's TASTY. mmmmm. Sticky rice, Black beans, coconut, and Jackfruit (or sugar of some sort), put into the bamboo and roasted till the bamboo is blackened, then the black parts are peeled off and it's sold. You peel down the bamboo to get at the rice. One of my favorite "snack" foods so far, and at $.50 it's filling and cheap. 

Oh, money here is mostly in USD, though they use Riels (their money) as well. 4000 riels to the dollar, so you get riels for anything less than a dollar, no coins.

Next stop was at Long's home village [Ta Ary], we got to see the primary school he went to and meet one of his teachers! The teacher let us look in to one of the classrooms since the kids were out for lunch. Then we walked down the road to see his house, met this dad, his Sister and Nephew and saw his rice field. :D We hung out under the house for a bit chatting. 

Last stop before Siem reap was at a 1000 year old bridge. We got out and took pictures and walked across. The Naga's at the ends were neat looking and it's in great condition for it's age.

(I almost forgot, we got LOST! :) The driver had to turn around and backtrack 3 times, and stop for directions twice, getting to and back from the homestay. :P)

Long spent most of the bus trip telling us stories about his life growing up, essentially the long and short of it is life's VERY unfair in Cambodia, and most people are really, really poor. Also the goverment's super corrupt. Suprise, surprise.

We arrived in Siem Reap and dropped off at the hotel to quickly shower and meet back up for lunch. Took Tuk-tuk's to Pub Street for lunch. I got Somloo mjour krueng (traditional mixed Khmer spiced soup) [a soup with pork ribs, morning glory, garlic, tamarind and basil]. It was very tasty. And came with a free fresh coconut. The coconut was only eh though, so far I haven't been really impressed with them. After lunch we all wandered our own ways. After finding an ATM (gives me mony in USD! Yay!) I headed to the markets and finally found some Girley cut T-shirts I liked. Now have WAAAY too many t-shirts. Oh well. I'll suffer. 

The Dinner adventure was tons of fun. 1st we went to where the locals hang out (on the side of the road) and tried some local feasts from the carts at Long's direction. Some sort of sticky riceballs, made out of rice flour around palm sugar with fresh coconut shaved on top(somewhat slimy) and a large round rice cracker thing made out of sticky rice, somewhat sweet and tasty. We then wandered to a carnival that had been set up. A few peeps tried the bumper cars, was VERY silly to watch, and then we went to darts! Same scenerio as usual at home, a bunch of ballons, you get stuff if you break them with the darts. However, here, they had household items and beer and soda as prizes! 

Next, Long ordered some frog, and Peter got chicken, and we all sat on a woven mat on the side of the road to eat them (cut into small pieces). The Chicken was pretty fantastic, and the frog was, hmm, interesting? They had cleaned the body out and stuffed it with lemongrass and pork, VERY strong. The legs were good though. There are beggar children EVERYWHERE, it's sad and a bit annoying. We didn't manage to finish all the frog and they decended on it like locusts. :(

After our "carnival" we got back on the tuk-tuks and headed to a local place called Sam Brother, where they have live band Karaoke. We were the ONLY non locals there. Long ordered for us, and we also got a "leg" of beer. 4 different Dishes, Flaming beef with onions (actually on fire when it came to the table), Chicken with vegtables, Veg Fried rice, and Deep fried whole fish in a tomato sauce with veggies. All of them were good though the beef was a bit tough. Fish so far this trip has been really, really good. (since I am somewhat leery of fish bones, I have mostly been stealing bites from the others rather than ordering my own fish so far)

Since it was Marina's Birthday, there was of course a cake (our 4th birthday this trip, crazy), and someone (staff?) sang her a reallllly long version of Happy birthday over the karoke machine, then one of the girls came to the mike to say "to the foriegners sharing their birthday with us, thank you". It was very cute. 

After the resturant most of us went on to a nightclub called HipHop where Long knows the Manager. The guys and Marina got a pitcher of beer, and I got a can of leechye juice. The music was almost exclusivly dubstep with a bit of other club stuff thrown in. Lazer lights and lots of young people dancing. After a while someone started smoking near us so I headed home but it was still fun. (especially since I had remembered my earplugs!)

Day 26, Siem Reap, Cambodia (temple Day!)

With the local guide we went to several temples. There were many, many tourists. I will try, but there is NO way I could possibly really describe the temples to you. My photos cannot do them justice in sheer magesty. 

We started with the Jungle Temple [Ta Phrom] (where tomb raider was filmed). It was beautiful, crumbling with trees and vines holding up parts while they undermine others. Many places have been so taken over by the treees that the trees are the only thing holding it up. Unfortunatly the loads of tourists were a serious detraction for me enjoying this temple. Julie calls them ATG's (Asian tourist groups) that must pose EVERY member of the group, one by one, in front of each neat piece of art/important thing, consequently always being in the photo for anyone else. Light wasn't great for photos, being overcast, but it did keep the heat a bit down. None of the photos were fantastic, and I didn't bother trying to get the shot from the movie at all. :(

Quick stop at Ko tao temple, not very pretty but big and had a "buddah" reclining in the side of it. It was the length of the temple but almost impossible to see. Aparently it got destroyed at one point and wasn't rebuilt correctly.

Next temple we went to was Bayon, the temple of a thousand? faces. I think this one was my favorite temple. The faces are so peaceful. Photos cannot do justice to just how many faces there were. I could only get a portion of the whole picture in at a time. You'll just have to take my word for it that overall it was magnificent. (even tripping over the other tourists)

We then had a quick look at Ankor Thom (it's big, can't say much else about it) and onwards to the Terrace of the Elephants (which sounds MUCH better than it looks).

We had Lunch in front of Ankor Wat where I had Fish Amok served in a fresh coconut. It was very good, I am very in love with the Amok spice mix.

After Lunch we got back in the minibus and headed to the Banteay Srei temple "Lady Temple" which is small but beautifully made of pink sandstone. Photos cannot do justice to it, (espically mine with my misbehaving camera) but the bautifully carved walls, lintels and everything else were exquisite and in much better shape than many others since the pink sandstone is harder. Hard to believe the carvings are as old as they are. 

Stopped at some random temple on a hill to see the sunset that wasn't. Can't recall the name, it wasn't impressive. :( Nor was the sunset, too cloudy.

Dinner on our own tonight, I met up with Julie (from home, also traveling in Cambodia) for dinner, we had barbecue (same as in lao, meat on a brazier with soup around the edge you put veggies in) and them a beer and market shopping. More T-shirts! 

Day 27, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Today was the day we went to Ankor Wat  (the main large temple complex). 

Some of us (5 of the 8) decided to do a sunrise run to Ankor, got up and left at 5am. Ugh. It was unfortunatly very cloudy, and CRAWLINE with tourists, but it was still pretty beautiful. Then back to bed for an hour or two.

The main group of us timed it, per suggestion of our guide to be there between 11am and 1pm, the hotest part of the day, when there are the fewest tourists.  Arriving through the west? gate, with it's line of angels on one side and Demons on the other was pretty impressive. Then Ankor Wat. It was hot for sure, but the carvings on the galleries are wonderful (photos did not turn out, boo) and I fell in love with the ladies which are carved everywhere. There were very few tourists, so overall sucessful. (I still liked Bayon and the Lady temple better). 

After sweltering at Ankor we had lunch at the same place as the previous day. I had Mama noodles (instant noodles) in a curry broth with mango and shrimp. OH goodness was it good.

At this point the group decided to split up. Jules/Doro and I went with Long to Explore the flooded village at Tonnel Sap Lake. It was a very bumpy 1/2 hr van ride and then a realllly long, noisy boat ride, but tons of fun and I got to sit on top! Long's brother and his family live in the village so we got to wave to his SIL and Nice and Nephew. :) Past the village we went all the way to the open water of the lake, after going through the mangrove lined waterways. Couldn't see land on the other side. Caught a beautiful sunset on the way back.

Dinner tonight was a special treat. We ate at the Temple Bar, which does  "dinner and a show" with traditional Khmer dances and music. Very pretty and MUCH better than the ones in Laos, though I am still not too fond of the music. 

Day 28, in transit, Siem Reap to Bangkok

We were pretty much on the bus ALL day. With a 2+ hr stop/problem/line at the border before we got through, we arrived in Bangkok at almost 8pm. My room has a KILLER view. For dinner we all piled into two taxies and headed to a resturant near Koh San Road, where I had fantastic whole fried fish in red curry sauce. Wandered a tiny bith through Koh San Road.

Day 29, Tour is over, Bangkok, Thailand

A tearful farwell at breakfast to the bulk of the rest of the group. Long and Gary had already left at oh god thirty in the morning. Then I checked out and stored my bag, before Jules, Doro and I decided to go find temples with a girl we met in the loby who was heading on to her own intrepid tour that evening. :) 

Wat Pho (with the reclining buddah) was amazingly interesting with odd nooks and crannies. The Reclining buddah is HUGE. Much bigger than I was anticipating. The Grand palace with it's jade buddah on the other hand, while it had amazing paintings on the gallery walls, wasn't worth the entrance fee and tripping over all the tourists. We saw a bit of it then gave up and went to find lunch on Koh San Road. 

Lunch was tasty, then I booked a room at the Swasdee hotel for the night and we all wandered for a while before going back to the original hotel and splitting up. I grabbed my bag and took a public bus back to Koh San, where I checked in and waited for Julia to arrive. 

Now on to the next adventure! 

Sorry, been busy..

I'll get out a real update soon, but the short version. Malaysia was neat and pretty. Singapore is awesome (though a 1st world country for sure). I am on Koh Lanta (an island off the West coast of Thailand) right now, and I'll be in The Philippines the 16th to the 30th. Returning to Seattle the 8th of Feb. 

Hope you are all doing well!

-me

Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

[Still working on the temple post, sorry] 

PHOTO TAGS [view of Georgetown from Kek Lok Si] [The Blue Hair Buddha from KLS] [The main statue at KLS] [NYE fireworks]

Dec 30th -> Visa expired so took ferry/minivan to Malaysia! Thai time made it interesting, but the ferry was smooth, MUCH better, and I made friends on the minivan! Now traveling with Emma and Chris from Holland.

We got a 3 bed room in Penang, very basic but clean and the rooms look like they have cubical walls (they sway when pushed). Wandered to have some street food, tasty noodle dish. Finally went to bed around midnight, it's an hour later here, so now 16hrs ahead of home. Makes it interesting for calling home for sure!

Next day explored the buddhist temple of Kek Lok Si, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, pretty but VERY commercialized and we saw NO monks!! Lots of stairs  and a blue haired Buddha though. :) Snagged some fried things on sticks on the way back to catch the public bus for the return trip. A really nice lady randomly stopped us and showed us how to make oragami hearts out of 1RM(ringit) notes. Was a bit odd but she was nice. [3 ringit=1USD]

Wandered a bit through little India, then met up with random friends for cheap beer and dinner. More noodles and Starfruit juice. (I am in LOVE with the starfruit juice, had about 4 glasses today, though they are small) Then beer, a Jungle Speed (holland card game like UNO) game or two (it's a drinking game). Eventually headed to the Esplanade for bands and eventually FIREWORKS!! :D 

Bed at 2am and so ends 2011 for me. 

Hope you all had a fantastic NYE!

Bangkok and Koh Phangnan, Thailand

Koh San Road

Snails Bite? Who knew?

Hammock Time, or where I could usually be found

Solstice Dance Party with a view

Boats

Lonkan

Pumpkin

Mangosteens and spiky fruit

Koh Phangan Sunset

[I promise I'll get to the rest of Cambodia soon, but it's taking forever to write, so skipping temples for now, and I'll get it out in a few days]


Day 30 and onwards, now no longer counting days and just moving as the whim takes me.

Well the tour was fantastic, and I did enjoy it, but it's also nice to book into a room and know you could be there for more than a day or two. I could stay a WEEK if I wanted to!

In Bangkok it's about $28/night for a nice small room with a private bathroom and twin beds. Julia (who I met in Hoi An) is sharing it with me, and I am a bit tired of the play by play blog posts, so lets make this one a bit different. :) 

Bangkok is crazy busy traffic from 6ish am to 10 am and 4pm to 7:30. Crazy, walking is faster by far. Many taxi's simply won't take you at certain times of day, you have to keep asking different ones if you really want a ride. (6th's usually the charm)

The shopping here is great, for cheap junk, or even some not quite so cheap, maybe original stuff. I'll be buying stuff before I head home for sure. Especially the insanely huge Weekend Market that Julia and I wandered to and explored. People set up stalls on the streets and sidewalks for a few hours, then pack them up and take them home. Many streets you have no idea how wide they actually are due to the "encroachment" :). Koh San Road is pretty crazy foreigners partying and loud music and cheap eats 24 hrs a day.

Fish is tasty. (I spend quite a bit of time not thinking about where it comes from). I especially am growing fond of whole fried fish. Mmmm.. 

I am developing a love affair with lemongrass. So need to find a nice bar of lemongrass soap (or 10) to take home when I eventually go.

The pollution is pretty bad, though it has been pretty windy the whole time in Bangkok so far, helping with the heat as well. Still very glad we have AC in the room.

After much shopping and hanging out and eating of tasty. tasty foods. (plus a few temples, and Many massages) I booked a bus ticket (the train is full, and flights are prohibitive this close to date) to Koh Phangan Dec 21st. Overnight, on a crowded, somewhat cramped bus. Oh well. It's worth it. Arrived at the ferry terminal (ticket included) at 4:30am and had to wait till the 6:30 boarding, wheee.. then a VERY choppy 2.5 hr, plus stops ferry ride to several islands then the one I wanted. Ugh. I would guess almost 1/2 the boat got sick on the first 1hr leg. :( It's pretty grey but still beautiful.

Arrived to be met by S! Yay! Hugs are AWESOME. Balancing my big backpack while on the back of a small motorbike on windy somewhat bumpy roads was an experience. It's been relaxing. Spent most of the first day here chatting with S in side by side hammocks with the kittens occasionally coming by to say hello. Fantastic massages then dinner, fruit at the market (got to try a bunch of new ones, plus the mangosteens are in season. mmmmmmm). 

New fruits (to me): 

Lonkan (not Longan) these look similar to longans, but are somewhat spotted yellowish, have segments, and taste somewhat between a lychee and a grapefruit. Very tasty. 

Z?? (spiky brown fruit) tastes slightly fermented. Not to my taste.

Not new to me, Mangosteens (oh god better than I have ever had, sooo in love) Mango, Pineapple, Pomello (turned out too dry, boo), Passionfruits, and Coconuts. Mmmm. Fresh coconut juice/flesh here better than I have had so far, worth drinking/eating.

The Pumpkin here is amazing, you can eat the whole thing, skin and all, and buy it by whatever sized chunk you want.

Much Island time (hammocks, with occasional lap kitten). A solstice dance party up at a place with a fantastic view. 

Lunch of barbecued Baracudda, Xmas party and bonfire. Breakfast shakes, more hammock time. Dinner SALAD, noodles with "pumpkin" and miso, delicious. Tea (several times) at a neat place called Art Cafe (with a library of books to read while there and free wi-fi), internet time. More fantastic homemade food, Sean's an awesome cook, the mashed pumpkin was to die for, and many, many mangosteens. Walking on the beach. A brief hike to a waterfall fed pool with nibbly fishies! Oh so pretty.

Tara keeping the Hammock warm

A bit of rain, but mostly relaxing with kitten time, it's pretty here.