Zelma’s Trip

On the Saturday I chilled out for the day, explored a bit and checked out a few of the shops. I joined Julian and Steve in the jeep they had hired to explore the island a bit. I had already witnessed Steve and Julian together and they were such a married couple. They were hilarious to be fair and constantly ribbing one another. They also extended this to me far too early on. I keep saying this but why is it that I become the butt of everyone’s jokes almost instantly? I’m going to take this as a compliment along the lines of people knowing I can take it or the warm vibes I give off….or something.

We went to a night market which was full of colours, flavours and smells. There was also a woman wearing another great t-shirt for my collection, this one said:

“I’m still loving you , but not now ‘Cause I have to take a dump'”

Charming I’m sure.

There were various games and both Steve and Julian excelled themselves at the “throwing darts at balloons” game in a, missing the balloons kind of way. Julian also did well at the “missing all the targets with the gun” game, although technically if this was the title of the game he would have excelled. I then tried my luck at the “catch a small fish in a paddling pool with a net made of paper” game. I also sucked. I later saw children using the plastic pot to scoop the fish up which I thought was definitely cheating as the whole point was trying to catch a fish with the paper net without breaking it. In all fairness though I have absolutely no idea what I would have done if I won a fish. Now that would have been fun at customs!

Later in the evening I met up with Steve and Julian and we headed into town. We again became unwilling subjects to the obligatory football watching and another slightly late night. We went to one of the bar/clubs at Chaweng where Steve rather entertainingly decided to try his hand at rodeo and the climbing of a weird rope ladder thing. Well, when I say he decided we did encourage him a bit, although he didn’t really need much convincing it has to be said.

On the Sunday we headed out in the jeep and went to a couple of temples on the way to “Big Buddha” . I wasn’t suitably attired so didn’t go inside the temples. Steve made a lovely observation that I looked like the girls employed in the streets in China (I think) to sell a khat like substance to passing drivers. Apparently they are very scantily clad. I was distinctly unimpressed by this, although to be honest I made quite a lot more of it than I actually felt. I was wearing a halter-neck (over a bikini I might add) and a skirt. It’s not like I was wandering round in a bikini or a boob tube or something. Anyway, so I didn’t go into the temples, took a couple of photos and had a cigarette.

After that we headed to grandfather and grandmother rock, so called as the two rocks resemble the nether regions of a man and a lady. Julian explained that apparently an old couple who had been inseparable their whole lives were lost at sea and that then the two rocks appeared. Hmm, I’m not sure I’ve recounted that story particularly well, or that he did in the first place actually! I remember wondering why this would result in a huge phallic stone and a truly pornographic female version. I think I asked about this at the time and whether they were randy old pensioners actually.

Anyway, after the obligatory comedy shots next to the rather rude rocks we headed to Na Mueang Waterfall. By the time we actually got to the waterfall it was dark but we decided to go and have a look anyway. Although it was dark walking down to the fall and over the rocks, the actual area where the fall was was in a clearing and you could see more easily. I, again, was brilliantly attired and was suitably girly in my wedges on the rocks. We went for a swim which was so refreshing and lovely in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall.

The following day Steve and myself decided to head back to the waterfall so that we could actually see it properly, take some pictures and have a swim in daylight. Julian didn’t come as he was apparently “busy” – most probably going for another “massage” or something. Wow he’s going to love me for that one! We ended up at a different waterfall initially and it was relatively small. It’s bigger brother was apparently up the road so we drove a bit further. This waterfall was supposed to be a twenty minute walk but neither Steve nor I had great footwear on. Admittedly I wasn’t wearing wedgs, but flip-flops were something of a poor substitute. It was relatively rocky, slippery and I nearly stood on a snake at one point. Okay, nearly is maybe a slight exaggeration but it was close enough to my foot when it scuttled off to make me jump out of my skin and let out a silly yelp. Added to this, and the fact that Steve was literally being eaten alive by mosquitos, we decided to turn back and head back to Na Mueang waterfall. It was just as magical as when we had visited it previously and the swim was so welcome after walking in the heat and being eaten. On the way back to town we managed to get lost on the island…..I blame Steve!

On Tuesday we left Koh Samui and headed for the pier to get a boat to Ko Pha Ngan, a smaller island renowned for, among other things, its crazy full-moon parties. Julian had been organised and checked out possible places to stay. The boat journey itself was relatively choppy and I was so grateful not to be suffering as a few of the other passengers were.