Sook sun wan pi mai!

Or in English, Happy New Year! Today is the first day of Songkran, otherwise known as the Thai New Year. It is celebrated with a water festival where everyone runs around soaking each other with hoses, buckets and various kinds of waterguns.

Fire trucks roam the streets hosing people down and people ride around on the backs of bakkies armed with supersoakers loaded up with icewater.

Let the mayhem begin!
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Only in Thailand

On our last day, while having brunch at Green Place's restaurant, we came across this little gem on the menu.

The Last Supper

While Shan's sister and her husband tried a variety of Thai dishes, Shan and I gorged ourselves on some western food.

The thai fare included a green curry, a massaman curry (a yellow curry made with potato and peanuts) and some very lively (in other words spicy as hell) squid.

Shannyn went for a lamb breyani and I for some enchiladas. Everyone agreed that the chef certainly knew his/her business.

Starry, starry night...

The star-shaped lights in the trees lent a festive air to the restaurant.

Jeb's Bungalows Restaurant

This lovely outdoor restaurant is right on the Ao Pai beach. We ate there on our last night in Koh Samet. The trees were full of festive lights and we were once again entertained with a fire show.

Massive Hibiscus up close

Perfection.

Massive Hibiscus Flowers

These were the biggest Hibiscus flowers I'd ever seen. Absolutely gorgeous!

The bathroom

Also nice and spacious. Isn't the door pretty? I thought so. Only problem I have with beach living is always having sandy floors...

Inside our bungalow

It was a spacious bungalow and at 500bht a night was a great deal. A/C, hot water, Cable TV and free WiFi, a fridge and kettle and a fresh supply of coffee and drinking water every day. What more could a girl ask for?

Flora outside our bungalow

Some more pretty flowers. Shan said it reminded her of the Strelitzia flowers in South Africa. I'm not sure if I agree, but they were interesting nonetheless.

Itty Bitty Box 'o Kittehs

The owner of Green Place's cat's 3 week old kittens. Soooooo cute!!

Pretty no?

Sitting at out beach-front restaurant I happened to look up and see this beautiful sight.

More bush

Here's a close-up.

Some kind of ice cream bush?

You tell me. All I know is that it looked pretty cool...

Mini crabs

These little critters could be found all over the beach. They would push little balls of sand out of their hole in the sand and then comb through it for food of some kind.

Some more beach

The beach

I was here!

Just to prove that these pictures were in fact taken by me ;)

Tiny sea-creatures

If you look carefully you'll see a tiny little crab in the centre of the picture.

Shell fossils

Goth crab!

Even in the ocean you'll find them... The goths, they are everywhere...

Fishies!

There was quite a variety of small fish to be found near the rocks on the one side of the beach.

The beauty of barnacles

Spotted on the beach.

Underwater dessert

The sand made lovely little desert-like patterns in the shallow water.

The beach

Expansive and sparsely populated. Tranquil and lovely.

Time for a swim

At 2pm when we eventually got to the beach the water was completely placid and about the temperature of lukewarm bathwater.

Dinner and a Show

As per most of my island experiences, we had some fire dancers on the beach to entertain us during our meal. These ones are smarter, however, in that they walk around with a metal box collecting tips after the show.

Ao Wong Duan Beach

The restaurant in front of our resort is right on the beach. You get to lounge ancient Roman style while enjoying some drinks and a meal from their extensive menu. The prices aren't cheap, but they're reasonable.

Green Place (Samed Seahorse 2)

The entrance to our resort from its beachfront restaurant.

The Samed Seahorse Rules

Our home away from home. You will be fined for any "chit" left on the sheets...

Almost there

One of the beaches to the right of the pier. Our beach is on the other side of the island to the left of the pier.

Koh Samet

A small island off the coast of Thailand near Rayong. The island is also a national park.

Banphe Pier

Leaving the Banphe pier

Next stop Koh Samet!