TLC - go chasing waterfalls

04.04. - Day 50 - Siam Reap to Bangkok/ to Koh Tao
Romy:
What a long day, with the longest bus-ride ever, especially for Dunja who went further to Koh Tao!
We caught our totally uncomfortable bus with no A/C or windows to open up and took until 2 pm to get to the Thai border...crossing was so exhausting, we sweated sooo much, it was disgusting! It was quite a walk, first we had to pass the Cambodian Check-Out point and then walked over to the Thai Immigration. Than we waited around for almost an hour for our bus to Bangkok - it was worth waiting for though, it was a Double-Decker VIP Bus and we had the best seats in the top front row!
Finally we got to relax and could stop sweating...
We arrived in Bangkok at 8.30 pm - much later than expected and Dunja ran out to the Tour-office right as we stopped to find out if her bus was still waiting. We had called before saying we'd be late, but it wasn't for certain they could wait. They did though and she took off to Koh Tao.
I decided to stay in BKK for one night to hopefully find a nice camera the next day. I checked into the Bella Bella Gueshouse on Soi Rambuttri with Rosy and Amilia and on the way there we met old acquaintance again - Ray from Don Det, who we also met in Siem Reap and Marie also from Don Det.
We got a room on the fifth floor - no elevator of course...felt sooo great to take a shower after all we'd been through today I quickly headed out to Kao San RD, hoping I'd still find shops that sold cameras, but they all didn't have the Panasonic Lumix TZ3 that I fell in love with, so I just went for dinner and a drink on Rambuttri Street with Amilia & Rosy before heading back to our Guestjouse around 1 am.

Dunja:
I got a bus to Koh Tao at 9 pm instead of the one I was supposed to take at 7.30 pm. Once again it was a nice VIP Bus, and I enden up in the back row next to a Thai woman around my age working on Koh Tao and Koh Pangan in a pharmacy, and we had a nice time, especially since she to me a lot about Thai people and their way of life.

05.04. - Day 51 - Bangkok to Kanchanaburi/ Koh Tao
Romy:
I got up early (as usual) and made my way to some more stores around Kao San Road to find a camera, but there was nothing matching my needs, so I took a motorbike to the Panthip Plaza, which was supposedly great for buying electronics. Got there around 9.30, but the Plaza wouldn't open till 10am and as it finally opened it's gates I realized only the stands would open at 10, the decent stores were locked for another hour. Around 11, I started to hunt for my prey and found several dealers offering me the newest Panasonic TZ3 for only 7900 Baht including a 2B memory card, but the catch was once again a missing warranty, or just a warranty for Japan or Thailand. I was about to give up when I found the Data IT Shop (this Plaza is huge - 5 floors just Electronics!!!) where they had the MY Lumix for 15.000 Baht WITH international warranty - I struggled for a while and then got them to sell me an extra battery for cheaper and include a 2GB memory card and bought the whole package for 15.800 Baht (with the current brilliant exchange rate only 318 Euros from which I will receive the 7 percent sales tax back) I am so happy now (though my bank account isn't)
I drove back to the Guesthouse and was late for check out so I took my sweet time getting ready since I had to pay the day's rate again anyways - as if I hadn't spent enough money already
Some tour operator falsely informed me that there are buses running to Kanchanaburi every hour and I should have listened to my gut feeling and not went to the far away Train station for 100 Baht, because there were no more trains...went the opposite way for another 100 Baht (I just love wasting money ) to catch a bus around 4pm. I arrived here in Kanchanaburi at 7 and checked into the River Guesthouse - I have a really nice bungalow floating on the river with a large bathroom for just 200 Baht! The mosquitoes there are killer though, I'll probably wake up like a Streuselcake tomorrow...
I went to the market, but from what we've seen in terms of markets in the past, this isn't too spectacular...I bought some wonderful sushi (a box of 10 large pieces for only 1 Euro!!) and walked to the Bridge over the river Kiaw, which I didn't find spectacular either - I guess after walking there for half an hour I envisioned something great...
Not I'm just going to bed and will visit the Erawan Waterfalls tomorrow!

06.04. - Day 52 - Kanchanaburi

The waterfalls were lovely, though I felt a little chased, as I didn´t have too much time and needed to be back downtown to catch my nightbus to Koh Tao later on.
The falls were crowded by Thai families and therefore I felt all the more embarrased by all the (I have to say especially Eastern European) tourists who were hiking all the way up the falls (1,5 kilometers - a good hour of walking) in there swimwear...
Especially in this area locals are quite conservative and it´s a shame not everybody respects that.
Anyhow, I had a great time!

Dunja:
I arrived at the town where the bus stops at 5.30 am and waited for the catamaran to Koh Tao who started at 8 am. I got to Koh To around 10 and somebody from my diving school (Buddha View) picked me up. I have a really nice room and the staff here is so friendly. I went to the beautiful white sand beach to relax from my 26 hours journey and in the afternoon I watched an introduction movie for 1 1/2 hours. In the evening we had a barbecue at the Gueshouse where I met some nice people, so I skipped my plans of completing chapter 2 of my theorie book that day...

06.04. - Day 52 - Kanchanaburi to Koh Tao / Koh Tao
Dunja:
At 9 am I started with Julie from Denmark our first theorie lesson until 11.30. It's only the two of us together with our dive instructor Daniel from Austria. He's really nice and is taking enought time for explaining everything, we feel so comfortable. I went to the beach until 1 and at 1.15 it was time for our first dive in the pool. I still can't believe how smooth everything went, we managed everything immidiately, even blowing the mask out, I feel so great and can't wait to get into the ocean tomorrow, we start off at 12.45. There have even been 2 whale sharks around lately, maybe I get to catch a glimpse?!?!?!

07.04. - Day 53 - Koh Tao
Dunja:
This afternoon I had my first dive in open water - just amazing, and I already love it! Can't wait to go again tomorrow. In the morning I had to continue reading the book since I want to do the written exam tomorrow evening, and since I'm still missing the last chapter I know what I'm gonna do tonight...

Romy:
I have just been wonderfully lazy all throughout the week - snorkeling, swimming, suntanning and sipping on Gin & Juice
Seizing the tranquillity of the island to catch my breathe and relax before getting back into busy everyday-life all too soon

11.4. - Day 57 - Koh Tao to Bangkok
we are on our way to Bangkok after some fantastic days in Koh Tao. Details tomorrow...

12.04. - Day 58 - Bangkok
Did we ever complain about sweating - we have been freezing for the first time here in ages - the city is out of control! There are waterbattles all over the place and there is not a dry spot on our bodies...people are spraying and throwing icewater on us constantly and we decided to find shelter in this internetcafe for just a few minutes...
We still managed to get a haircut and some beauty treatment today, but got no blowdrying done - there's no point
This morning we also went to the weekend market here in Bangkok with Jessie, who we met on the bus yesterday. As we arrived here in BKK at 4.30 this morning it was not easy to find accomodation, because there is so much going on over the Thai New Year; eventually we got a room for the three of us in Soi Rambuttri street, where all the craziness is!
Anyways, tonight we are meeting some people from Laos and also Marion again to get soaked a little more!
Will be fun sitting on the plane completely wet tomorrow...

13.4.- Day 59 - Bangkok
Last entry, the trip is (almost) over. We will have a couple more hours more fun out on the streets before we head to the airport at midnight to catch our plane at 3.15 am.
We look forward seeing all of you again soon, hope you enjoyed this diary!!!
Hugs and Kisses
from Romy and Dunja