Sunset in the Sea

We were desperate to see the beaches in Myanmar before we left the country so we embarked on a 24 hour journey that involved travelling in the back of pick up truck, an overnight bus, two taxis, a very cramped local bus and the back of a motor bike! We were sweaty and exhausted by the time we got to Ngwe Saung beach and Paula and I were pleased to find some reasonably priced beach huts to stay in. We arrived just in time for sunset so we chucked our stuff in the room, grabbed beers and ran into the sea in all our clothes and watched the sun go down whilst bobbing about in the warm, calm water.

The most luxurious bus I've ever been in - it had air con, blankets, comfy seats and even a waitress who gave out free coffee and snacks.

We couldn't believe how many people they'd crammed into this tin can of a bus, they also decided to stop at a petrol station for an hour for no reason - it was sweltering!

Our view when we arrived.

Sunset in the sea.

Whilst we were in the sea some people came and told us there was a fire show in a Japanese restaurant on a hill and whilst we were there we met a local band and some other travellers so we ended up having a lock-in after the bar closed. The party later moved on to the beach by our hotel and, whilst the Myanmar guys were playing their guitars and singing, we all danced on the sand and in the sea. Jagged streaks of lightening peppered the horizon in the distance creating dramatic reflections on the water. Myanmar music is adorable and they often cover western songs in their language; when we got a taxi to the airport I was singing along to the driver's music so much that he gave me the CD as a souvenir!

Fire show.

Gathering on the beach.

Ngwe Saung beach.

After leaving Myanmar and flying to Thailand Paula and parted ways as we both had different plans so I stayed in a hostel in Bangkok and got a bus and a boat to Koh Tao (an island off the south east coast of Thailand) the next evening. Bangkok tuk tuks are quite pricey compared to what I've been used to in India so I wanted to save myself the money by walking to the bus stop; what I didn't realise is that it would take me an hour an a half because of my heavy backpack, the evening humidity and all the people in the way buying street food - it felt like some kind of army bootcamp! I'd left myself a lot of time so when I got there I grabbed a Chang beer and got a foot massage on the street next to the meeting point and I still hadn't spent even half as much as I would have on a taxi there!

Beer and a massage!

My first glimpse of Thailand's islands as the sun rose.

After getting the overnight bus we arrived at the ferry port at 5am in the dark. I sat on a deck chair and fell asleep by the sea and when I woke up it was daylight! I was so worried that I'd missed my ferry as half the people had gone but luckily mine hadn't arrived yet. The ferry passed loads of mini islands as the sun was rising and I was getting really excited about my first visit to a paradise island in Thailand!!