Finally The Beach - Koh Pi Pi

Yesterday i got a chance to use the internet a littel bit during our trip to koh pi pi (the beach). A beautiful speed boat picked us up with about 20 other tourists and we were off. We visited beautiful uninhibited beaches and caves in the middle of the ocean with sandy beaches and clear waters. We stopped at 7 islands. We got to snorkle and see what life under water is really like. Its captivating, there were thousands of fish, and for a moment i felt like a mermaid. We stopped at an island called Monkey Bay, and we saw a lot of you guessed it monkeys. Ive never seen Marc grab the camera so fast and run towards them. The monkeys would come down from the mountains to entertain tourists with their silly tricks. They ate bananas and coconuts and peeled them just like we do. In the middle of the day we stopped for buffet lunch and thats when we got a chance to use the internet. Finally, our destination. It was the last stop but it was beautiful, it did look like a lot of the other islands that we saw, but because I have seen it in a movie it made it that more surreal.

Everyone we spoke to on the boat loves Canadians, they think we are very friendly people and those that have been to Canada say it's a beautiful place. They also all express their dislike for the US and we agree and explain how we are different. Most of the people we meet are travelling from Europe, they are very sad to note that their vacation will only last three weeks. Its hard for them to get more that three weeks off at a time (their vacation per year is minimum 5 weeks). The Europeans are horrified to hear that we only get 2 weeks plus statutory holidays. Dont even get me started on how long their work week is (38.5 hours per week, anything more and its their decision and its overtime).

From all this sun exposure we now sport really nice tans. I really dont ever think I was this dark before, maybe when I was younger and lived in Israel.


Today Marc and I were supposed to go Rock Climbing with an instructor, the proper half day tutorial. We made a deal with a guy name Tar that we met a few days ago. We didnt pay just a verbal agreement that we will be waiting for him at 9am at our hotel. Guess who didnt show???? I think we were both secretly kind of glad he bailed. We saw at least 5 tourists with broken legs. Marc kept saying that they were probably climbing without an instructor or proper equipment, but needles to say NO TAR meant a day at the beach.

We wake up early (surprisingly) and head for breakfast. Were already tired of Thai food, its all the same. Noodles, rice, curry.... So we search for pizza and salad and i wish i can have some chicken wings mhhh. We also really miss home cooking. I would love to eat a home cooked meal, my moms or grandmas or the Casimiri's dinners (bbq ribs)!!! After breakfast we head for the beach, read books, tan and swim. In Thailand there are a lot of second hand book places. If you have a book to exchange then the new one (used one) is half price. I already read two books and looking for my third. If anyone has any suggestions, please comment. In the afternoon we play cards (Marc wants you to know that he won, but only because I couldnt take any more WAR has anyone played this game? its tooo long). We watch the sunset and have hundreds of pictures to prove it. Thanks to Marina, Misha, Vika, Lenya, Rita and Sasha we have a huge memory card that we havent even tapped into yet and can save all our memories.

Today is a day of work. That involves figuring out our next place to call home, how to get there, find the best price, find the hotel and book it (to avoid the notable Mambo hut exeprience). Today we also have to pack our bags and do laundry (nice thai ladies who fold and wash). Tomorrow we are going to Koh Tao its a bigger island and known for its scooba diving. We plan on diving but this time we will be sure to make proper arrangements.

We miss everyone very much and talk about you all the time. We read your emails, comments and facebook messages and get really happy to hear from you. Please keep it coming!!!

Charlene, I will make sure that we get a hold of you this weekend and say hello.