LONDON ====> KOH SAMUI

I'll start my recapping the events from 4th November 2014 to 12th November 2014;

LONDON TO KOH SAMUI

4/11/2014 to 05/11/2014

I arrived at LGW promptly with a mini posse involving Tras, Roly & Kicks. It was very sad to say goodbye to them and seeing them drive away. I held it togev relatively well, until I was alone. It's tough, seeing your best mate cry is as hard as seeing your Mother cry, which I had experienced the previous day. At about 0900hrs in Gatwick I went to check in to my flight only to be told that check in was delayed until 1000hrs. At 1000hrs I returned to be told to go back at 1115hrs. Again at 1115hrs I was told the plane was missing a part, OBVS THE FALANGE! (Well done Friends fans - I'm still pulling this one as I travel). I was told to return at 1330hrs where we would be informed for defo if we were to be holed up in a hotel motel holiday inn over night. At 1215hrs I asked a member of staff about my connecting flights, and I was told they were opening check in. The MOS informed that as I was connecting to go to BKK (Bangkok) they were going to try and put me on a direct flight but didn't need to now as check in was open. Awesome. I checked in, I got the seat I wanted on the flight and I got air side. The flight was meant to take off at midday. At 1400hrs there was no new info, I happened to notice a large crowd forming at a information desk, I recognised some folks from my check in queue so made my way over to be informed that the flight had now actually been cancelled. We were all escorted out of air side, collected our belongings and informed any duty free purchased had to be destroyed/tax paid on them. I blagged innocence, I've one of those faces. 

Back at departures, I got talking to my very first travelling friend, or as I like to refer to her as 'NEW FRIEND - *NF' (it's my thing). I'm not sure if it's irony but Kat, new friend, turned out to be travelling alone for her first time, like myself, AND she was ex job (Police)! I did give a little chuckle at the what I thought irony of it was seeing as I too am in the Po Po, technically still am, just on a break. Anyways I digress, longer story long, Kat and I as well as 3 other backpacker types were placed on a Thai Airways flight direct to BKK but from Heathrow. At 1630hrs we left LGW for LHR where once we arrived it was practically smooth as. Despite the dramz of the day, I wasn't annoyed oddly, I thought it was quite fitting my adventure should start the way it did before I had even left the country. A few large glasses of Chianti and I was ready for the flight.

Kat's Journey can be followed by like her page on FB - 'Homeless Kat'

Initially I was flying with Vietnam Air and I can't rate them either way, although they could have handled this missing Falange (!) better. Thai Airways, however, was fantastic, a great flight that seemed to just er, fly by... And excellent quality of food, service, drinks, entertainment, although I only watched one film - 22 Jump Street. Oh a shout out to Bangkok Airways also, who moved me to a different flight without charge once I realised I was going to make my connection in BKK! 

05/11/2014 - 12/11/2014  Ko Samui, Thailand

Smile House was to be my home for the first two nights. I arrived at about 2100hrs, having been awake for about 36hrs due to the delays. I went straight to bed watching a Thai music video channel, a whole hour dedicated to 2NE1, I presume a Thai version of Girls Aloud. Amazing. YouTube them! I slept on and off for about 12 hours but woke a lot. The heat was quite increds!! 

Paradise.

The next day I had breakfast on the beach, beautiful hot sunny day and despite my zombie state I had a moment of 'woah this is paradise'. That moment passed swiftly as I had some errands to conduct. Firstly to try and see Keely, Ross & Finn - after all the only reason I was even in Thailand was for their wedding - I managed to meet Keely & Finn on the beach outside the hotel I would be staying in from the 07/11/2014 this was a surreal moment but wonderful! I then needed tickets to the FULL MOON PARTY for Caroline, known as Caz during the rest of this blog, Ange, and I. I was very excited about seeing them and obvs the FMP!

The tickets I acquired meant we got a speed boat to Koh Pangnan for the party which was thrilling natch (thanks Kenickie) but I being me was really concerned about the state of my hair upon arrival. Thankfully we had a boat back from 0100hrs onwards on the hour back should we had wanted it. Now most of yous will know what the outcome of attending the FMP was;

1. I gained some ink on my back,

B. I lost my iPhone 5,

3. I enjoyed Mushroom Mountain a bit too much, 

E. I thought I could handle 4 buckets.

1. The tattoo is specifically 'ESSEX' written in the font of  'The Only Way Is Essex' logo, I got Sopita - *NF, the tattoo shop owner, to print it from Google. I wanted it much bigger than it is at the time however Caz & Ange convinced me otherwise, thankfully! At time of writing I'm still a bit embarrassed by the tattoo but I do love it and I do not regret it.

I'll learn to embrace this! 

The story is that I had ESSEX painted in yellow on my arm and I had a moment of clarity (?) and just thought how amaze it would be having it as a tattoo, this then was affirmed by Caz, and the infamous Caz Effect took hold. Escalated to the show's logo and so on, so with a bucket of Long Island Iced Tea in hand and on a silver platter, natch, I got the tatt. Unsurprisingly I felt very little during the process. It's also important to mention that point 3, above, had some influence over my clarity.

Many photos were taken, and since lost from the FMP, on my part, but I'm looking forward to them going on FB Caz & Ange! 

Me, Flange, & Caz @ FMP!

 Caz & I, my face says it all.

Shout out to Mikko *NF, FINLAND!, who we met at the FMP! He's so ADORBS and sweet! He was a lot of fun and he continued to be so!! 

@migoster on Instagram.

Me, Mikko, & Caz. What a great guy! One of the best I've met on my journey so far. A lot of fun. #Finland.

Mikko clearly ❤️'s me!!

Mikko can be followed on Instagram - @migoster

Needless to say the morning after the night before was not a good time for me. I was not in a good place, the jet lag didn't help either. 

Thereafter I obvs continued to drink alcohol, not sure how I've managed too as I'm not used to this anymore from back home. 

I did go to PINYO'S Muay Thai boxing session with Ross one morning, it was an early start of 0600hrs and we arrived as the heavens opened and a force of rain I have never seen before. Monsoon season! The training session was great and I worked up a massive sweat. The trainer was clearly getting frustrated with me as he kept slapping my thighs when I wasn't getting the moves. Like a true boss I got there in the end and basically I was blates ready for a fight! Given.  The weather was pretty horrif all day so I then spent an extra hour in the gym after breakfast at my new home, THE PEACE RESORT. I had missed BSV back in Essex! 

Peace Resort is nice but very little put on for children, and really nothing particularly special from my perspective. It's based in Bo Phut which the Lonely Planet describes as the third busiest area on Ko Samui, with the Fisherman's Village which on a Friday is packed but where is everyone the rest of the time? It was soon apparent that Chaweng is where the party is at! 

The boys arrived, Nicky and Nichols, there'll be referred to as Kenickie and Nichols. 

Nichols (AKA Neil from The Inbetweeners) and Kenickie // Danny Dyer // Nicky. 

I was a bit nervewrack about hanging with them, due to my confidence issue which I hope to resolve on my journey of self discovery. I had met Kenickie before but several years ago and I probably have met Nichols too but I'd have thought I'd remember him had he been like he was here, after just a few seconds of re-meeting them I knew I had nothing to worry about. These boys are legendary, not a BASIC bone in their bodies....well..... Once they arrived The KTK assembled. KTK = Koh Tao Krew.

K T KAAAAAAAAAAAY!

We partied hard in Chaweng. Ark Bar a particular favourite on the beach. Buckets of vodka red bull! 

Buckets of Vodka & M150.

Dancing in the beach to some heroic tunes and and simply living my bloody mofo life. Dancing in the sea courtesy of the boys, and having magic moments that will live forever, thankfully I was on hand to take many a photo, kinda aides my memory of the nights outrageousness. Another haunt was the Absolute Samui Vodka Bar. I loved this place, great tunes, great layout, absolute vodka you name it, it was there. It was here Caz found FINLAND // @migoster. We went mental, it was so good to see him again after the FMP! He was with his mate, sorry friend I can't remember your name!! We danced a lot, tried to steal his cap as for memories sake but he was having none of it - got some great snaps that have convinced me that I must own a cap.  Something I may regret in a few years in a photographs kinda way. The night ended in a tuk tuk that drove past Sound Bar where what I can only describe as more than likely a ladyboy jumped on the back of it and ate my face then disappeared again, all very marvel-esque! Bloody hilare though! 

Awesome venue.

@migoster's cap // wasted.

 Caz & @migoster.

I believe this night was also when we accidentally filmed a selfie as opposed to taking one on a newly bought SELFIE STICK - you know it makes sense. The 3 second clip actually factually makes me LOL every time I watch it.  This video will be uploaded here.

The KTK seemed to gravitate towards Chaweng. The girls left early one night and it was me and 'my' boys! Well it was after a slight indiscretion on the beach with an Aussie off of Grindr, say no more....after though we hit the party hard, again. We went to Ark, Absolute and Sound Bar which are both open later than 0200hrs. Podium dancing and bucket drinking, not forgetting the moon off from across the club. We give good bum!  After wards we walked for what seemed like forever to find a KFC only to find that we had walked in a circle, en route meeting ladyboys, one who grabbed me and pulled me down an alley, the others got their tits out. It was all very funny. Again we saw FINLAND out again, that boys a night maker! We're obvs Facebook/Insta friends now. 

On one of the days, I spent it with Keely et el which was great, it was great to spend time with Finn, we had hoped to go to a water park but once we got there it transpired they had no power, as the rain had been coming down hard. We went back to the hotel via a Tesco Lotus and played in the pool in the pouring rain! It was very funny! Love spending time with that boy, he's one of the cutest/sweetest kids you'll ever meet. I'll miss him loads.

Keely's wedding was delayed by a day due to poor weather being forecast. The wedding actually took place on the 11/11/2014, Remembrance Day! The venue was stunning, really really beautiful, I was on filming duties, and CAN I GET A WITNESS? Duties! I have to say when Keely asked if I would be a part of her wedding I was so happy, I was really honoured.

A hot mess filming.

 That view though.

Keely & Ross tying the knot.

The stunning bride & I.

The KTK scrub up well, huh?

I was natch hungover, basically a theme of the whole time I've been away thus far. Hanging as I was, I was also looking forward to seeing Keely in her dress, I had made a point of not seeing it before the day. The girl was stunning, the dress was beautiful. Jaw dropping. The service was lovely as the sun was setting. The day's events included an elephant ride for the newly weds and Finn, elephant feeding, tree planting, flag raising, cake cutting, lantern lighting, fireworks, and the X factor shower of sparks. Drinks and dinner were to be had and I spent most of the evening playing with Finn which was magic to me. He got tired and then decided he wanted to sing a long to Frozen so 'Let It Go' it was for about 15 times, I do have the cutest video of him singing it though.  Awesome. The selfies that Kenickie took in the back of the minibus were hilarious, although not brilliant in terms of photography, they certainly capture the hilarity of that moment. Totes natch.

 Just a small selection of the hilarity.

This rounds up London to Koh Samui. Koh Tao is up next, a feast for your eyes. I hope you enjoyed this post. Feel free to comment & share. Love always, me!