Lunch With the Locals

After 2 days of strenuous sightseeing, Brett and I both thought that another day of lazing around was in order. After breakfast, (fresh fruit and honey pancake. Yum!) we started our hike to the beach. After a wonderful splash around in the warm sea, we settled down into our deckchairs for a spot of sunbathing.

It wasn't long before we were joined by one of the local beach hawkers. (who, after discovering we are actually freindly, have stopped trying to push their wares on us, and are now quite happy just sitting down for a chat.) As we were nattering away, another local, called No, who we had met on one of our first days in Koh Samui, came over to join us. He had told Brett during our first meeting, that he would like us to join him and his wife for lunch, so when he arranged to meet us at one to take us to his home, the both of us were very excited, as well as completely honoured. We knew that most tourists would never be given the opportunity to experience a real Thai lifestyle.

He had told Brett during our first meeting, that he would like us to join him and his wife for lunch, so when he arranged to meet us at one to take us to his home, the both of us were very excited, as well as completely honoured.

I felt it best to dress appropriately as the Thai's are a modest people and do not appreciate the girls flashing their assets for all to see, so I wore the white blouse I had bought in Australia for these scenario's and my fisherman pants to cover my legs. No is also Muslim, so I definitely did not want to cause offence to his wife or neighbours.

At 1pm, No met us on the beach as promised, and soon we were on our bike, following No and his wife about 20 minutes up the road to where he lived. We soon realised we were in proper Thai country. No Westerners in these parts! We removed our shoes before entering, as this is the proper thing to do, and got our first glimpse of how the Thai people really live. Their home was small compared to Western standards, but with a TV and all the basic mod-cons. There was no furniture to sit on, but with temperatures like this, who needs hot, sweaty sofas when you can sit on a cool, linoleum floor.

I went out to the back room with the boys, (which I'm sure his wife did not approve of. I could almost hear her thinking, "Farang whore! Sitting with the men folk! Lah!") No introduced us to his friends and neighbours, both called Somchai. No's wife brought us some fantastic snack foods of little chicken and potato pasties, delicios banana muffins, (which I have discovered they sell in the local 7 eleven and am now addicted to! Also, they came from Tesco,(!) the local supermarket. Not like any of the dry, flavourless cakes I've ever got from Tesco, let me tell you!) and also some sort of fruit that seemed similar to an apple. They had even bought coke!

Although there was a definite language barrier, Brett and I found it was easy to communicate and all in all, everyone had a fun time laughing and chatting. No had a pet cat who had 2 8 week old kittens, which didn't take long to draw my attention. Although they were very timid, (also very scrawny and complete with ear mites. Sorry! I can't help myself) a little gentle persuasion soon had them playing and climbing on my bag. The Thai boys apparently found the whole thing absolutely hilarious. Oh well. I can't help being me. (And I also named them Clive and Cuthbert)

After a couple of hours, Brett and I felt we should leave due to the occasional rain at around 4pm and some dark clouds setting in, so we said our goodbyes. I thanked No's wife in Thai when leaving and recieved a genuine smile. I just don't want her to stereotype me with some of the white girls that can be seen strutting around in bikini tops and hotpants. (although the ladyboy's wear the same thing!)

Arriving back at Home Bay, we took the opportunity for a quick swim and then settled down for a couple of drinks. (I have discovered the Thai cider, which is dirt cheap but tastes similar to the local stuff in Somerset, family and fellow West Countriers) In the evening, we had another fantastic meal at the restaurant, and then played 'Uno' for a while.

It was not long before the sandman found me though, so I thought it best to head to bed. I now leave the story for a while so Brett will now continue our daily antics:

As Vanessa had exhausted herself playing with kittens and being chauffeur driven around Koh Samui, it was up to me to wave the flag in true drinking style. We'd found the local cider (25baht) and made our way back to our bungalow. With Ness tucked soundly asleep, I continued to devour the cider both on our veranda and also on the beach.

The beach bar was pumping, and as I had recognised a couple of familiar faces, (or thought I had!) I made my way over. A lot of younger couples had arrived during the week, and were merrily drinking away the night. I soon found myself drinking with a lovely couple - Klaus and Kate. (Kat-ti) After the basics had been taken care of, (where are you from? etc, etc) Claus thought he would take me on in a tequila challenge! Suffice to say, I won hands down and even managed a few more beers afterwards. (AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE! OI, OI,OI!)

Now it was the wee hours, and Ness arose and made her way over, where we all chatted, laughed and played 'Uno' (the universal card game!) till the morning light shone through.