After Dengue Fever

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After 5 days at the Burumgurad International Hospital in Bangkok Philip was discharged after recovering from Dengue Fever.

Straight from the hospital to a good brunch. Philip was able to eat again.

We went shopping and then to a gigantic movie theater in Siam Paragon Center. We got tickets for Mission Impossible 5 which had premier the day beore.

You can book a sofa. 

In front of an Antman figure

In the immense hall in front of the cinema

After the movies we went to a gaming arcade and the boys played various games, including a cool motorcycle game.

Philip was dead tired when we finally returned to the hotel and was quickly fast asleep. He slept really well throughout the night for the first time in a long time.

 Next morning we went to the neighboring restaurant for breakfast.

Pool time. We are enjoying the last day before going to the airport in the evening.

Philip is quite skinny... We´ll get him beefed up on a protein diet in Denmark.

From Koh Samui to Bangkok

Today we left Koh Samui. The flight was not until 6 pm, so we got late check out and kept one of the bungalows until 4.30 pm. Philip was feeling much better but was still weak, so he stayed in the room most of the time. The rest of us spent a lot of time by the pool, soaking up the last sun of Koh Samui. The airport was only a 10 min drive from our resort so we had plenty of time.

Koh Samui airport is really nice, it is an "open air" airport, the terminals being open pavillions with fans and no aircon. Must be energy saving.

Gate 2

Leaving Koh Samui

Approaching Bangkok

We took the Sky Train to Phat Thaia and then a taxi. The driver tried to cheat us by putting the meter to some weird amount. I was so upset that I asked him to pull over and started to talk about the security officers that controll the taxi drivers. When upon Hirokos suggestion I took a photo of the drivers licence (which is displayed in the window of the cab along with a phone number to place complaints about the driver), the driver went very quiet. When we reached the hotel he didnt even ask for payment. I paid him anyway - fair is fair.

Our balcony on 21st floor.

Hiroko and I prepared instant noodles and dumplings from nearby 7eleven after arriving late at the hotel (I just had time for a quick workout).

In-room dining...

Day by the pool and Japanese Gourmet Restaurant

By the beach

My new tattoo. I have to ask my brother if tattoos are OK from a dermatological perspective when I get back.

Philip was still ill and Miki was being a royal pain the bu.. so we decided to leave Miki at home and go out in the evening. We took a taxi to down town Chaweng.

By chance we passed by a Japanese restaurant that we had read about in the in-flight magazine in the airplane (Tai by Red Snapper). It is famous for its cocktails. The food looked to be first class too.

Progressive cocktails: Tequila, lime, brown sugar, salt, and chili (mine). Plum (ume shu), rum, strawberries (Hiroko's).

First course: scallops, pork/Thai basil rolls/ aspargus-bacon rolls.

Waguy meat with herb butter, chicken meatballs, eringi mushrooms.

Main course: Crab/mackerel (Hiroko) and Tuna steak (mine). We had plum sake with the main course.

Cocktails for dessert: Matcha (green tea), Bailey´s, and ice cream with bubble tea balls and azuki beans (mine). Tiramisu sticks with Thai tea brandy (homemade)/Kaluha.

The dinner was really perfect. Most notable perhaps was the deep-fried crab (which makes the shell edible) and dessert cocktails. But everything was really delicious.

Beach Day and Fight Night

Today Philip was ill. He didn't feel well at breakfast. It turned out that he had a fever and spent the rest of the day in bed. He says that it isn't so bad, but he still prefers to stay in bed in the AC room.

The rest of us decided to walk to the attractive part of Chaweng beach for a beach day. It is a 20 min walk along the beach, but there are many things to look at on the way, so it was OK even for Miki.

Perfect beach: fine powder sand, shallow water, small waves.

Bying BBQ'ed chicken at the beach

In the evening we went to Petch Buncha Stadium to pick up tickets for the Muay Thai show of the evening. There was a lot of commotion in the city with truck driving around making advertisement in loudspeakers for the show. The show didn't start until 9 pm, so we went for dinner at a nearby night market in the meantime.

Waiting for pancakes at the night market.

We bought some small souvenirs at the stalls.

Then we went back to the stadium. A lot of scooters were parked in front of the entrance but there was still a lot of space in the stadium. We got some good seats close to the ring. They played loud music and ran some videos about the fighters on a big screen. We got some beers from girls selling drinks at the seats. After ca. half an hour the action finally started. We stood up for the Thai national anthem and then the first fighters came in. They did some kind of weird dance to traditional Thai music played live at the stadium. And then the fighting started.

Oh, dammit. We had to leave our guns at the door.

Waiting for the action to start

The line-up

The program

The betting paper

The first junior fighters start.

The sound level increased as the fights became progressively more important and bets were placed... The Thai section went wild when this guy won. One of the betting parties gave this guy a money note after winning.

After the third event (out of 6) there was a "Son of Rambo" show with this guy. He was pretty good and we liked it.

The main events were the two last fights: the Phuket champ against the Samui champ (Phuket won...) and Tomas Superprosamui (Dutch) against Petmai (Thai). Tomas was really good but eventually, and to us at least, surprisingly lost.

We got home close to 1 am. Miki had been tired at some point during the show and slept a bit, but now he was wide awake. We found Philip sleeping. He woke up a bit and said he wasn't doing too bad.

I went to buy some snacks at the nearby 7eleven and we had a very late night meal before going to bed. It had been a brilliant day.

Leaving By Beach Resort (Bang Por Beach) and going to Chalala Resort (Chaweng Beach)

Today we left the By Beach Budget Resort. We really liked the place.

A last burger and shake for breakfast.

Bye By Beach Resort

Bye, friendly staff

Mum's and Dad's bed in new fancy bungalow in Chaweng Beach.

The Boys' room is very fancy...

Hello, new beach.

Lots of fancy restaurants and bars along the very busy beach.

Dinner - having a good time

People are sending up lanterns in the sky.

Sparkles from lantern

Our restaurant (our resort) is in a restaurant corner of the beach - very lively.

Late night visit to the pool. Michael can swim the full length of the pool now.