A taste of Malaysia

One of the original Beetles

Island Rum


Took the night train out of old Bangkok,
Held in dreams by its gentle rock,
Made a mad dash to beat the clock
Then boarded the bus to the ferry dock.

Cut through the water like a crystal knife
Smiling faces, husband and wife,
Of life's problems there isn't a one
That can't be cured by ocean and sun

Strolling slowly along the beach,
The sunset like a Georgia peach,
Old friends warm as the setting sun,
And the fiery glow of the island rum.

Hammock swaying on the cabin porch,
It's getting dark, hey, where's my torch?
Something made me lose track of time,
Can't be the rum, must be the lime.

Down the beach to Three Monkeys Bar,
Two monkeys left but they didn't get far,
One pouring drinks, two on the floor,
Passing a bogie to the girl next door

Walking slowly along the beach,
The sunrise blurry, almost in reach,
Old friends in bed with the setting sun,
But I still feel the glow of the island rum

To Ko Phangnan girls come to meditate,
Smoke their veggies and recreate,
They smile, and bow and say 'Namaste'
I eat fried chicken and say 'have a nice day'.

Today we leave for lovely Koh Tao,
Where I stub my baby toe, owww
But the rhymes get harder and harder to make,
Maybe it's time to take a break.

I see I finished my bottle of rum,
Maybe tomorrow I get a new one,
Take some aspirin and start again
Put down the pain and pick up the pen

"Let us go then you and I as the evening is spread out against the sky"

Is this what T.S. Eliot had in mind

Almost too beautiful to be real

To the Thais it's beauty first then function

One of so many beautiful little cafes

Used statues for sale abound. Could fill our house with them

Just made it to the ferry dock.

Our bungalow with famous hammock

Standing in the same spot as last shot, pivot and there's the beach

Walked out until waist deep that's our slice of beach

Tiny, hidden, secret Three Monkeys bar

Maya's BBQ chicken and papaya salad.  Bliss for about $2

Aussie's in the water, ring around the beach?

Moose

And Roo

Believe it or not that's Nat not a professional stunt person.

Swimming and snorkeling and food and beer and friends.  The perfect day.

Nat and Vito have been coming to Ko Phangan for nigh on 15 years,

they know everyone, the best local foods, the best roads, what awesome guides

Scenery while having lunch.

Leaving Ko Phangan for Ko Tao

Rented amazing apartment on Ko Tao called Hin Wong apartments.

They are built into the cliffs, no beach but stairs leading right into the Crystal

clear waters.  Opened a whole new world, like swimming in a giant aquarium

Believe it or not the climb up to the reception desk

and restaurant.

From the restaurant looking down a view of the apartments.

Our apartment high up on a cliff.  Enjoyed cooking our own food twice 

a day, then up to the restaurant for evening meal and socializing.

Our east facing balcony

The water has to be 50 feet deep but oh so clear

Jumping rock

Looking straight down from our balcony, our own Easter Island

guy in the middle

Spent hours each day exploring the ocean life. 

One of the many places we would love to return to.

A lone paddle boarder rounded the point just about dusk

Moonrise

Sunrise

Hiked across the island on foot, the locals couldn't believe how

foolish Canadians are

Zoom lens from our balcony

Too much fun

Sunset on Ko Tao and we are off to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia