Wed - bus to Thla Sala
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- walk around guy gave me Khanamon the drug leaf.. Full of cafeine or something like Betel or Cocao. Then went to check out new university. The woman was very kind, but archaeological site was dead boring.
Met Japanese students shows Thau/Jap cooperation is big as I suspected.
| Bus to Sichon
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- besieged by Motorcycle taxi guys - walked around yo check out if there was a nice place to stay at the beach. Mistake I should have dropped the bag at the hotel in town as I ended up walking so far. It was 3 Km to the harbour I paid a boatman to cross to the north beach. OK, but no atmosphere 300B to stay, walked 2Km to go north to get to Khanom, got a ride, but the road doesn't go thro, but ends in a closed resort. Got a ride back to town southern beaches, but there places were expensive. The thing is a beach isn't magic to me, I'm not interested to pay double. So ended up back in town anyway after walking at least 10Km with my bag.
At market met Eh whose family have a shop. He is a history teacher.
Thu met Eh again at the market which began at 3am ! But nothing special.
| Thu - : Khanom
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Khanom - Supposed to be an undeveloped tourist area so unspoilt - Sawng theaw seemed expensive now 40B instead of 15B.
- found cheaper hotel 2.5 quid hired motorbike for 3 quid to explore. NP office were no help. It's strange being on a bike.. You whizz past places, before you can appreciate them. I went past waterfalls, but never saw them . It's kind of the off season so past 15Km of empty beaches (Hat Kor Khao, Nadan Beach, Nai Plao, Thong Yi bay, Thong Yang)
and low key resorts, coconut plantations. I went 15Km up the mountain some nice views. (Khao Daad Pha)
Back at the beach.. Met some people harvesting coconuts and went to their place. The mother gave me Durian toffee which is quite good.
Here is a video of the empty Khanom Beach
at the midpoint of the bay between Hat Kor Khao & Nadan Beach
Ended-up at a row of beach cafes Kor Khao Beach at the north of Khamom Bay, but not more than 20 people in total.
Came back to town & walked around the harbour. Met a pensioner Trairatana who invited me to visit his house Friday.
Trai
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Fri - Khanom 2|
Could have rushed off to Islands, bit I decided to have another writing day and meetup with Trairatana later. Anyway it was too hot to go anywhere.
Met up with Trairatana, we drove to the north beach (Paknum) by the Gas Power Station & then to his cousins.
Trai at the Beach
Many Burmese refugees in the area. Drove to his new house, which must be one of the best houses in the area. It's 500m away from the beach on it's own 30m hill so has 360ฐ views.
Trai
Trai
View from the House
| Sat- Khanom 3|
Still at Trairarana's house
How could a Radio Singapore newsreader read something like this "Last nights protest against the governments turned out to be nothing. At 5 o'clock there were only 5 people, eventually there were 20, but there was no demonstration they sat around in small groups drinking tea ... They were tailed by dozens of plainclothes police." could it be slightly possible that the demo didn't take place cos of the intimidating presence of lots of plainclothes police ? Surely everyone loves the "democratic" government.
| Sun - Cafes with no food
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Actually staying at the big house was a bit boring so I walked 600m to have breakfast at the beach.
Even though there are 12 places it was difficult to get food, most were closed finally one was open, but only had fried rice, no tea no coffee.
Walked back down the beach for lunch it was the same story only fried rice, no tea no coffee, no noodles etc. I guess their businesses is beer & BBQ. I ended up buying canned fish and eating it with sweet bread.
| Sun - North Khanom
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Trai turned up and we drown to the beach (bay Thong Kwaeng Phao) , which is actually the nicest beach with good views to Samui2 or 3 proper organised beach bars.
The jetty and view to Samui
Thong beach seen from the jetty
For me Khanom was a bit boring, I am not a beach person. Although Trai was very kind cos none of his sons turned up who spoke English communication was difficult & I could never work out what was going on. It would be a good place to stay long term if one had English speaking Thai friends to explain things. ..So I decided to move on to Ko Samui.
Trai at the caf้ with his friends
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