Samet day, different shit

Hello all, sorry for the long delay. Graeme and Bill and I decided, spur of the moment, to go to Ko Samet for Sunday and Monday. It was HEAVENLY. Mom and Jack, whilst deciding which foreign-based child to visit, take note; white sand beaches, clear water, sun 24-7, cheap fresh delicious seafood AND I spent a grand total of $55. The entire weekend. That includes the ferry, lodging, food, EVERYTHING. There weren't a lot of farangs there, mostly Thais from Bangkok down for the weekend and Japanese on vacation, but still more white faces than I see in a typical week. On Sunday night we found this restaurant. . .I don't know if I can put the wonderfulness into words, but I will try. Picture low wooden tables , with cushions to sit on, on the actual sand. Yards from the water, which is waveless but makes that incomparable ocean noise. The only light is candles and torches, and it's about 80 degrees at 8 pm. For 300 baht (about $6) you get a heaping plate of fresh seafood. Clams, crab, enormous prawns, a tuna steak, squid, mussels, and a uniquely Thai thing like a miniature lobster. HEAPING. Plus all the beer you can drink and soft Thai music. THIS IS WHAT LIFE SHOULD BE, PEOPLE.

Coming in a close second for most excellent moment of the weekend was on Sunday afternoon, when all three of us (yes, even the boys) got pedicures on the beach. Life does not get much better than sitting in a lounge chair on a sunny white-sand beach, drinking a cold beer and getting a pedicure. I can tell there will be many more weekend Ko Samet excursions.

I was a bit under the weather yesterday. Slept through the entire day, which I haven't done in a long time. I think it was just too much sun, too much heat. If I ever get skin cancer (knock on wood), I will be able to trace it to this weekend.

Today is chore day, I've arbitrarily decided. Laundry, cleaning of the room, grocery shopping. Things that I was disappointed to discover have to be done, even in Thailand. I've adjusted really well, I think. I feel almost at home here, so it's somewhat of a shock to realize I've only been in this country for two weeks! Seems much longer.

And my Thai vocabulary is growing every day. I'll leave you with this; sue-ai! (That's my Roman alphabet equivalent of something I can say but not yet spell.)

In other words, you're beautiful!